Authorities are expected to decide on Tuesday how debris from a residential building that partially collapsed in the Petralona district of Athens will be removed, nearly two weeks after the incident.

According to Panagiotis Charlaftis, Athens’ Deputy Mayor for Technical Services, Municipal Services and Digital Governance, the process for clearing the site is expected to be finalized imminently.

“Tomorrow the procedure will be determined and we will know who will do what and how it will be carried out,” Charlaftis said, describing the development as a last-minute breakthrough.

The collapse occurred 14 days ago on Alkmenis Street, leaving the building’s residents and property owners waiting for access to the site, which remains sealed off. The continued presence of debris has delayed both recovery efforts and the official investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Charlaftis said the court-appointed experts have already conducted an initial inspection of the site and have a preliminary understanding of the incident.

Residents Hope to Recover Belongings

The expected start of the debris removal process has renewed hope for affected residents, many of whom have been unable to retrieve their possessions.

One resident said she hopes her father will be able to recover valuable work tools stored in a semi-basement storage unit beneath the building. She estimated the financial loss at around €25,000 and said the equipment is essential for his work.

“We hope everyone will be able to recover whatever survived and is most valuable to them,” she said, adding that while material losses are significant, the emotional impact has been even greater.

She described her father as being in poor psychological condition since the collapse and said many residents continue to struggle with the sudden loss of their homes and belongings.

Investigation Still Awaiting Full Site Access

The debris has also prevented court-appointed experts from completing a full forensic inspection ordered by prosecutors.

An emergency meeting involving officials from the Municipality of Athens and the Attica regional administration was recently held to find a solution that would allow the debris to be removed, enabling experts to complete their examination and allowing the prosecutor’s investigation into possible criminal liability to continue.

According to officials, although two independent experts have been appointed by the Athens First Instance Prosecutor’s Office, they have so far been unable to complete their work because the site remains obstructed by rubble.