The apartment building in Petralona may have collapsed in seconds—but according to people who spent time daily at the site, warning signs had appeared days earlier. Among them was the man who kept his tools in a storage unit inside the building.
A Storage Unit Owner’s Close Call
The tenant of that storage space told Live News he noticed something was wrong soon after excavation work began on the adjacent plot. The building’s main entrance door—once easy to open—had become increasingly stiff, marking the first red flag.
“I could have lost my life,” he said, explaining he’d observed the worsening condition for over 15 days. Before the nearby excavation started, the door functioned normally; afterward, opening it grew difficult—a change he directly linked to foundation work next door.
He says he reported the issue, but his concerns were not taken seriously enough. Some even blamed the changes on an older earthquake, while he remained convinced the root cause lay in the construction activity next door.
“This building had stood for decades—and survived many earthquakes. Without these interventions, it would have stood for many more years,” he said, questioning why work wasn’t halted when early problems emerged—and why residents weren’t warned and evacuated.
Timing That Saved His Life
By sheer luck, he wasn’t inside his storage unit on the day of the collapse. He’d been called away to transport some tools for a plumbing inspection—but that errand ended up saving him. Shortly afterward, he received a message saying the alarm system had gone offline, followed by news that the building had collapsed.
Inside that unit were all his professional tools—valued at over €20,000.
Other Residents Raise Similar Concerns
Others in the area echo his worries. Several report noticing doors sticking, small cracks appearing, and moisture spots emerging on walls shortly after excavation began.
As Live News previously revealed, two architects involved exchanged text messages referencing structural concerns—raising further questions about whether risks were adequately assessed or communicated.
Authorities Launch Investigation
Authorities are now investigating the collapse’s causes. Technical experts from the Attica Region are conducting on-site inspections and assessing the structural integrity of the neighboring apartment building—which was evacuated after the incident.
Athens’ municipal planning department confirmed the new construction next door had a valid building permit—but no geotechnical study was carried out, as current law does not require one for such projects.
The Athens Municipality is exploring housing solutions for displaced residents, while relevant agencies continue gathering evidence to clarify the full sequence of events and responsibilities.