A violent explosion on Friday in the old city of Athens caused a two-story building to collapse. Reports indicate that the incident, which occurred near the Hadrian Gate in the historical Plaka district, sent fragments flying, shattering windows in the vicinity and damaging nearby vehicles.
In the immediate aftermath, one pedestrian was injured by debris, while two women were rescued from an adjacent building and transported to the hospital. Initial investigations suggest that a gas leak may be the cause of the blast.
Authorities quickly cordoned off the area, and numerous fire department personnel were on site, working to extinguish a small fire that developed and continuing to search for possible additional casualties. Deputy Mayor of Athens, Paris Charlavtis, confirmed to ERT that the building is completely destroyed and that a full inquiry into the explosion’s origin is underway.
The destructive event also resulted in damage to surrounding businesses and structures. Authorities are currently examining the structural stability of the nearby buildings, particularly since some are older, and may need to be deemed unsafe. To prevent further accidents, the gas and electricity services in the affected neighborhood were preemptively shut down.
