The silver lining of the building collapse in Petralona was that there were no casualties — but families lost everything, and the fight to recover what remains has only just begun. The daughter of one of the residents is now appealing for help to retrieve family heirlooms that appear to have been lost in the rubble. Speaking to MEGA television, she said: “Four days have passed and we are living a nightmare,” before getting to the heart of her plea. “We want someone to help us recover some heirlooms,” she said, holding up the only photograph she had managed to save — a picture of herself with her father — adding that “everything has now taken a legal course.” She is also urging the public and media to keep the story in the spotlight: “When the dust settles, I don’t want anyone to forget us.” According to reports, the municipality has provided financial assistance to those affected, and clothing donations have also been made available.
Petralona: “Encouraging” signs for the neighboring building
Shortly after the collapse, residents of the adjacent building were also asked to evacuate. Paris Charlavtis, Deputy Mayor of Athens and a board member of the European Council of Civil Engineers, expressed cautious optimism, stating: “An on-site inspection has been carried out, and the initial signs are encouraging.” Experts are increasingly pointing to a chain of technical errors on the part of the contractor and engineers responsible for the new construction, who reportedly disregarded the area’s geotechnical data — an unusual and serious oversight.
Meanwhile, the construction company — which had previously promoted its work through videos and photographs showcasing luxury residences and hotels — has yet to issue any official statement regarding the incident.
