Petralona building collapse: families receive €3,000 aid, Airbnb housing as neighbours evacuated
After a four-storey apartment block collapsed in Petralona yesterday, Athens mayor Haris Doukas announced €3,000 in emergency aid per family and partnered with Airbnb for temporary shelter.
The collapse
A four-storey apartment building at Alkminis 22 in Petralona, central Athens, collapsed on Wednesday while excavation work was taking place next door. The collapse happened in seconds, destroying the building and forcing the evacuation of an adjacent block. Regional engineers are inspecting the neighbouring structure, which sustained damage to its outer walls and has been closed off by authorities pending a structural report.
Emergency coordination
Mayor Haris Doukas visited the site on Thursday morning to meet residents and coordinate the municipal response. He told reporters that the biggest challenge was rehousing the 7 displaced families.
We have already contacted Airbnb, which will immediately provide spaces for people in need. Already from the 7 families, 4 people have expressed interest.
The mayor added that discussions with hotels are underway, as the timeframe for securing permanent accommodation remains unclear. The site has been secured with two-metre metal fencing and railings, and police are guarding against looting.
Financial and social support
On Wednesday evening the Athens Municipal Council held an extraordinary session and unanimously approved disbursement of €3,000 in emergency financial assistance per family. Social welfare services are helping residents reissue identity cards and other documents lost in the collapse, while the municipal solidarity centre is collecting essential supplies.
- Four-storey apartment building at Alkminis 22 collapses during adjacent construction work
- Athens Municipal Council holds emergency session and unanimously approves €3,000 per family aid
- Mayor Haris Doukas visits site, announces Airbnb partnership; adjacent building evacuated for safety
Investigation
A preliminary investigation ordered by the public prosecutor is examining whether proper shoring measures were followed during the neighbouring excavation. Five individuals arrested in connection with the incident have been released pending the probe. The municipal building directorate has conducted an on-site inspection and will produce a risk assessment report before any further access is allowed.
The area must be secured, all necessary inspections must be carried out, and then, in cooperation with the State, we can proceed to the next steps with expert engineers and our teams.
