Petralona apartment collapse sparks probe of adjacent excavation

A multi‑storey residential block at Alk Mene 22 in the Petralona district of Athens collapsed while demolition and excavation work was under way on the neighbouring lot intended for a new building. Greek authorities are examining whether the collapse was caused by insufficient support measures at the excavation site, including the lack of retaining walls and an open foundation pit that may have undermined the stability of the old structure.

Five individuals – the project owner, the contractor, the supervising engineer and two workers – have been referred to the public prosecutor on suspicion of violating urban‑planning regulations. A case file has been opened for alleged breaches of building‑safety rules. The building, erected in 1956, pre‑dated modern seismic standards and showed signs of age‑related wear. Concurrently, the government is debating reforms to the 1929 co‑ownership law (Law 3741/1929) to modernise regulations on condominium management, common‑area financing and mandatory building insurance.