The Municipality of Athens is continuing to remove debris from a collapsed apartment building at 22 Alkminis Street in Petralona, with safety remaining the top priority as authorities prepare to investigate the cause of the collapse.
The municipality has been at the scene since the incident, coordinating the necessary operations and providing support to affected families, according to Athens Mayor Haris Doukas.
APARTMENT BUILDING COLLAPSE IN PETRALONA, ATHENS / THE FOLLOWING DAY (YANNIS PANAGOPOULOS / EUROKINISSI)
In a Facebook post, Doukas said the cleanup would continue until the work was completed safely and properly. Removing the rubble will allow experts to investigate what caused the building to collapse.
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The municipality is also working to recover personal belongings and money found among the debris and return them to residents as quickly as possible.
“We are continuing the removal of the debris without interruption and with absolute safety, so that experts can determine the causes of the collapse,” Doukas wrote. “At the same time, all money and personal belongings found in the rubble are being returned immediately to residents.”
He added that the municipality would remain at the site until the critical operation was completed.
APARTMENT BUILDING COLLAPSE IN PETRALONA, ATHENS / THE FOLLOWING DAY (YANNIS PANAGOPOULOS / EUROKINISSI)
€3,000 in emergency aid for each family
The municipality’s response also includes financial assistance for those who lost their homes.
Athens City Council unanimously approved emergency payments of €3,000 for each family living in the apartment building at a special meeting on Wednesday, July 1.
The municipality’s social services are available to assist affected residents and help them gather the documents required to receive the payments.