Petralona, Athens: Authorities order removal of rubble from collapsed building

Fourteen days after the sudden collapse of a multi‑storey building in the Petralona neighbourhood of Athens, the site remains blocked by debris. Deputy Mayor for Technical Services Panagiotis Charlaftis said that tomorrow a procedure will be defined to clear the rubble and allow forensic experts to continue their investigation.

Following an emergency meeting that included the head of the Athens Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance, Arestidis Koreas, Mayor Harry Doukas and Attica Regional Governor Nikos Chartalias, the prosecutor issued an order to the municipal service to commence immediate removal of the debris, with assistance from the Attica region if needed. The clean‑up aims to enable investigators to determine the cause of the collapse, retrieve residents’ personal belongings trapped under the wreckage, and address health concerns.