Four-storey apartment block collapses in Athens as adjacent demolition undermines foundation
A four-storey apartment block on Alkminis Street in Petralona, Athens, collapsed on Tuesday during demolition work next door. All residents were eventually accounted for, and five people including the contractor and owner of the adjacent plot have been taken in for questioning.
The collapse
A four-storey (some sources describe it as five-storey, with a ground floor plus four upper floors) apartment building at 22 Alkminis Street in Petralona, Athens, collapsed shortly after 1 p.m. local time on Tuesday, 30 June 2026. The building housed seven apartments and was occupied at the time. Within seconds, the structure turned into a mass of concrete and steel, according to reports from the scene.
Cause and warnings
Demolition of an old two-storey building at the neighbouring plot (20 Alkminis Street) was underway, as part of a plan to erect a five-storey building with a basement and attic. The demolition permit had first been issued in November 2024 and was renewed in July 2025 after a change of ownership. A pre-approval for the new construction followed in September 2025, and the building permit was granted in March 2026.
Workers on the demolition site discovered that the apartment block next door lacked foundations. According to an eyewitness, they rang all the doorbells in the preceding days to urge residents to leave; only one floor did not respond. Around 12:30, the building was already tilted 14 degrees. Workers shouted warnings as the structure began to give way. The same witness described how a contractor pulled her from her car window moments before the collapse.
Rescue operation
Thirty firefighters with eight vehicles, a special rescue vehicle carrying a search-and-rescue dog from the 1st EMAK unit, along with police, EKAB ambulances, and crews from DEFA and DEDDIE, were dispatched to the scene. Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service, Lieutenant General Anastasios Pappas, coordinated the operation.
Initial reports spoke of four people trapped inside. Three were located relatively quickly by relatives. The fourth person, a woman, was initially feared missing but was later found safe – she had been on holiday in Nafplio and was not in the building at the time. One person at the scene fainted but no fatalities have been reported.
Investigation
Five individuals were brought to the Petralona police station for questioning: the contractor, the owner of the adjacent plot, and three engineers responsible for the demolition work. The investigation is ongoing to determine liability for the structural failure.
- Original two-storey building erected at 20 Alkminis Street.
- Demolition permit issued for the building at 20 Alkminis Street.
- Demolition permit renewed after ownership change.
- Pre-approval granted for a five-storey building with basement and attic.
- Building permit issued for the new construction.
- Demolition works begin on 20 Alkminis Street next door.
- Workers observe that the adjacent building at no. 22 is tilted 14 degrees; evacuation warnings intensify.
- The four-storey apartment building at 22 Alkminis Street collapses.
- Firefighters, EMAK rescue unit, police and ambulances arrive; rescue operation begins.
- Three of four initially missing people are located; the fourth is later found safe on holiday.
- Five people – contractor, plot owner and three engineers – are brought in for questioning.
