Four days after the collapse of a residential building in Petralona, Athens, the images remain harrowing. Residents who lost their homes—and with them, decades of memories—in mere seconds are still struggling to grasp what exactly happened. Outside the ruined apartment block, families live in anguish and uncertainty.
‘It’s been four days—we’re living a nightmare,’ the daughter of a tenant told Live News, describing the ordeal her family is enduring. Emotionally shaken, she holds in her hands the only photograph she managed to save—of herself and her father.
‘We want someone to help us retrieve some of our heirlooms,’ she said, adding that ‘everything has already entered the legal process.’
Although the municipality has provided financial assistance and clothing to those affected, anxiety lingers. ‘Once the dust settles, I don’t want anyone to forget us,’ she stressed—voicing fears that public attention will fade as time passes.
Inspections continue next door
Meanwhile, engineers continue safety inspections on the adjacent building. Paris Charlaftis, Deputy Mayor of Athens and a member of the Board of Directors of the European Council of Civil Engineers, offered cautious optimism: ‘An on-site inspection was carried out—the initial signs are encouraging.’
Experts point to a rare chain of technical failures by the contractor and engineers behind the new construction—allegedly ignoring critical geotechnical data about the area.
The construction company, which previously promoted high-end residential and hotel projects through glossy videos and photographs, has yet to issue any official statement regarding the tragedy.