Thessaloniki balcony collapse causes property damage

A section of a balcony from an old, uninhabited building collapsed in central Thessaloniki on the evening of Thursday, August 20, 2026. The incident occurred at 33 Balanou Street, near the busy Athos Square.

The collapse caused significant material damage to a parked car and cracked the windows of a neighboring shop due to flying debris. Witnesses described hearing a loud bang that sounded like an earthquake, causing panic among patrons at nearby taverns and cafes.

Despite the high pedestrian traffic in the area, no injuries were reported. The driver of the vehicle was not inside at the time, and witnesses noted that a woman narrowly avoided parking her car in the exact spot just minutes before the collapse. Police have arrived at the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation into the circumstances of the structural failure.