Plaka victims’ relatives arrive in Greece; DNA samples to be given at the Forensic Service on Monday

Relatives of the six victims of the explosion and building collapse in Plaka on Friday have arrived in Greece, summoned by the competent authorities, as the Greek news agency ANA-MPA reports via Hellasjournal. According to the same source, they are expected to appear at the Athens Forensic Service, possibly on Monday, to provide genetic material that will serve for DNA comparison and the completion of the remains’ identification process.

Investigations by the Directorate Against Arson Crimes (DAEE) continue intensively, ANA-MPA reports: for the third consecutive day, the ten-member team is carrying out in-depth checks at the scene. Athens municipality workers have removed almost all structural material from the rubble — a process expected to be completed on Sunday — and the material is being sent to a dedicated area, where it will be examined by DAEE specialists and appointed experts.

According to Hellasjournal, the investigations focus on the second-floor apartment where the elderly couple lived, as information so far indicates the explosion occurred exactly there. It was the only apartment in the building with a natural gas supply, used for the kitchen, fireplace and burner, but authorities stress everything must be documented before confirming whether a gas leak caused the tragedy.

Preliminary investigative actions are being carried out under the order of the competent Athens Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with other Hellenic Police services, according to ANA-MPA.

The explosion killed six people — four American citizens, three of them of Albanian origin, and the elderly British-Greek couple. Their families are now expected to help in the decisive identification phase through DNA analysis.