Thanks to the alertness of one resident, the timely evacuation of the building that collapsed in Petralona was made possible, leaving scenes of utter destruction in the area. The four-story building on Alkminis Street collapsed on Tuesday afternoon (30/06), with authorities continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. The resident’s daughter spoke to Live News, describing the moments that unfolded just hours before the building came down.
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Building collapse in Petralona: “She spotted a large crack and immediately called an engineer”
Speaking on Mega’s morning show, the resident’s daughter explained that her mother had noticed intense creaking sounds inside the building since the early hours of the morning, and shortly after discovered a large crack in one of the apartment walls. According to her account, the woman immediately contacted a trusted engineer, who arrived at the scene within a short time to assess the situation.
According to the same testimony, during the on-site inspection they were informed by workers at a nearby construction site that the building had developed a noticeable tilt since the early morning hours, which reportedly increased within a short period of time.
These specific claims have not been officially confirmed and remain part of the ongoing investigation.
The decision to evacuate
The witness stated that, following the inspection, her mother and the engineer urged all residents to immediately vacate the building, concluding that there was a serious risk of collapse. “My mother called me and told me there was a problem with the apartment. A little while later she called again to tell me we no longer had a home,” she said, describing the moment her mother watched the building crumble before her eyes.
She noted that the loss was particularly devastating, as this was the home where her family had lived for decades and where all of their cherished memories had been made.
The outrageous remark allegedly made by an engineer: “The Leaning Tower of Pisa leans but doesn’t fall”
One particular claim made by the witness caused significant public outrage. According to her account, when it was pointed out that the building had begun to tilt, one of the engineers present allegedly responded by saying, “The Leaning Tower of Pisa leans but doesn’t fall.”
It should be noted that this specific claim is based solely on her testimony and has not yet been confirmed by the competent authorities or any other official sources. Investigators are examining all available evidence to determine what led to the collapse of the building in Petralona. The investigation is focused on construction work being carried out at the adjacent plot, the structural condition of the building, and all technical parameters that may have contributed to the incident.
