A resident of a northern Athens suburb says he narrowly escaped death after part of a wall collapsed from a construction site onto his property, showering his yard with concrete and metal debris.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening when a section of a wall at a building under construction gave way, sending debris crashing onto the roof and courtyard of a neighboring home. The homeowner, who was sitting in the yard at the time, sustained minor leg injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged later the same day.

Recalling the incident, the injured man described hearing a small noise moments before the wall collapsed.

“Within seconds, the entire wall came down into the yard,” he said, adding that he believes the collapse may have been caused by poor construction or years of deterioration.

He said the falling debris narrowly missed his head.

“If I had been standing up, the metal bars would have gone into my head,” he said, explaining that the materials fell from a height of around 10 meters and struck an oil tank before landing around him. “I have fragments all over my body.”

The collapse also damaged the property’s heating oil tank, causing a fuel leak that raised concerns about the risk of fire.

Emergency services, including police and firefighters, responded to the scene, while the injured resident was transported by ambulance to hospital.

Residents Raise Safety Concerns

Footage from inside the construction site reportedly showed visible deterioration in parts of the structure. According to local residents, the unfinished building has remained in the same condition for around 15 years, with limited security measures preventing access.

Residents say children are frequently able to enter the site despite the potential dangers. They also claim this is not the first safety incident linked to the building, noting that police were called about a year ago after pieces of the structure reportedly fell onto the street.

Investigation Underway

The injured homeowner said police have not yet located the property’s owner. He has given a statement to investigators and said legal procedures are already underway.

Authorities temporarily closed a nearby road following the collapse while emergency crews secured the area.

The resident said he has reserved all his legal rights, warning that unless action is taken, a similar incident could happen again.