With questions still unanswered and the building collapse in Petralona leaving residents suddenly homeless, Athens Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection Andreas Grammatikogiannis has sent a message through parapolitika.gr that investigations are ongoing. Initial fears over potentially trapped residents in danger added to an already tense situation — though it was later confirmed that all occupants were safe and unharmed.
Deputy Mayor Grammatikogiannis noted that as part of the continuing operations, the power supply to the area would be cut, and that heavy machinery was already on site. Addressing the possible causes of the collapse, he explained that a demolition had been taking place at the adjacent property and that authorities would be evaluating whether all necessary safety measures had been followed.
When asked whether residents had received any prior warning, he confirmed that the building had shown signs of tilting — but that it ultimately collapsed within a matter of seconds.
Grammatikogiannis also stressed that support would be provided to the displaced residents of the Petralona apartment block, with securing temporary accommodation being the immediate priority, while search and investigation operations continue.
Petralona building collapse: A timeline of events
Earlier, nearby EMAK urban search and rescue units were placed on heightened alert and ordered to stand by in case additional support was required. The Fire Service Chief was also present at the scene, coordinating operations. Firefighters on the ground issued an order to establish a new 50-metre safety perimeter due to the risk posed by potentially flammable materials in the debris.
Fire service personnel had initially been searching for four individuals — three men and one woman — all of whom were subsequently located and confirmed safe via phone contact. Meanwhile, according to the latest information, five people were brought in for questioning at the Petralona police station, including the owner of the neighbouring building where construction work was underway, the contractor, the supervising engineer, and two workers.
All five were transferred to the Acropolis police precinct to provide statements regarding the construction work in progress, which is believed to have triggered the collapse of the adjacent residential building, and to clarify whether the required permits were in place.
What an eyewitness said
“There was a deafening noise — all I know is that they were doing construction work next door. They were digging a basement and they must have undermined the foundations of the building beside it, and the whole thing just came down,” said an eyewitness to the Petralona building collapse.
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Watch videos and see photos from the scene
Due to the building collapse in Petralona, 30 #firefighters were mobilised with 8 vehicles and a specialised rescue vehicle with a search and rescue dog from the 1st EMAK unit.
— Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα (@pyrosvestiki) June 30, 2026