The search and rescue operation in Plaka of Athens ended tragically, after the collapse of a three-story building as a result of a powerful explosion. The rescue teams have also found the last two bodies, bringing the number of victims to six.
The first body, that of a woman, was recovered around 02:00 am. Then, during the morning, teams found the body of a man. Around 13:00, two more victims were located, while about an hour later, the last two bodies were found.
According to preliminary data from the authorities, the explosion is suspected to have been caused by a natural gas leak, but the exact cause of the tragedy has not yet been determined and remains the subject of investigation.
The blast occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning, causing the building to collapse and significant damage to surrounding properties and parked vehicles.
At this stage, the authorities are examining different scenarios regarding the origin of the explosion. One of the hypotheses of the investigation is the flow of natural gas and its accumulation in the premises of the building before the ignition.
Experts are expected to carry out a detailed examination of the ruins and the building’s installations to determine the source of the gas, the method of ignition and the circumstances that led to the collapse of the building.
