Μake us preferred on Google Residents of Plaka in Central Athens described what happened during and the first seconds after the powerful explosion on Friday morning.
The powerful explosion completely destroyed the building, while the neighboring structure also suffered extensive damage. At the same time, smaller property damage was reported to numerous buildings within a radius of about 100 meters.
“I was right in front of the building that collapsed. I watched it come down in front of my eyes. All of the windows of the neighboring buildings shattered. There was an elderly woman next door, but she got up and moved away from the windows. The police came and got us out,” a local resident said. “They said it was caused by LPG. There was an odor. The noise was deafening.”
Drone image of the collapsed building in the Plaka neighborhood of central Athens.
Another witness said: “At around 7:30, we heard something that sounded like a bomb. Pictures fell off the walls, the coffee spilled, and there was a huge blast wave. We were trying to understand exactly what had happened. We were sure it was a bomb. We went up to the roof and saw heavy smoke. It was terrifying for everyone.
Drone image of the damage cause by the explosion.
Search and Rescue Continues
Meanwhile, rescue teams are racing against time as they search the rubble to make sure that no one is trapped beneath the debris.
Using specialized cameras, they are searching the building inch by inch. According to information available so far, three people from the United States had rented an apartment on the first floor, while an elderly couple lived on the second floor.
(ΕUROKINISSI)
So far, it has not been possible to establish whether any of them were inside the building.
According to the Fire Service, the two women rescued from a neighboring building were taken by ambulance to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital with light injuries.
