Woman Found Dead in Rubble After Plaka Building Explosion

Rescue crews recovered the body of a woman early Saturday from the wreckage of a building in Plaka that had been largely destroyed by an explosion the previous morning, the first confirmed death in a disaster that has left five other people missing.

The woman was an American tourist who had been staying in a short-term rental apartment on the first floor of the building, on Lysikratous Street in Athens’ historic center. Three other Americans who were believed to have been staying in the same apartment remain unaccounted for. An elderly couple who lived on the second floor — a 78-year-old British man and a 77-year-old Greek woman — are also missing.

The discovery came after hours of painstaking work inside the ruins. Firefighters had continued searching through the night, proceeding cautiously because large parts of the building are unstable. Shortly after 2 a.m., an ambulance arrived at the site as activity around the debris intensified.

The four American tourists had booked a flight out of Athens on Friday afternoon but did not board it, according to information being examined by investigators. Their absence from the flight is among the indications that all four may have been inside the apartment when the explosion occurred. Search crews have also recovered personal belongings from the debris, including a woman’s handbag, a suitcase and two passports believed to belong to two of the Americans staying in the apartment.

About 30 firefighters are taking part in the operation, supported by six vehicles, specialized rescue teams from Greece’s 1st EMAK disaster-response unit and three trained search dogs.

Crews periodically halt work and switch off equipment so rescuers can use sensitive acoustic devices to listen for signs of anyone trapped beneath the debris.

At this time, investigators are still trying to establish the cause of the explosion. A natural gas installation was present only on the second floor of the building. ENAON, the gas distribution company, said there was no indication of a leak in the distribution network.

Police officers, municipal personnel and emergency medical teams remain at the scene Saturday as the search for the missing continued.

Source: tovima.com