Building partially collapses in Chania, Greece

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, a section of an abandoned building formerly housing the War Museum in the old Italian Barracks of Chania, Greece, suffered a structural collapse. Emergency services, including over ten firefighters and EMAK units, were deployed to the site to assess the situation following reports that individuals, specifically a homeless woman known to frequent the area, might have been trapped under the rubble.

Authorities, including Deputy Regional Governor of Civil Protection Giorgos Tsapakos, confirmed that initial scans with acoustic geophones did not detect any signs of human life. While early searches showed no evidence of trapped victims, officials maintained caution, cordoning off the site for safety. Mechanical engineers from the Chania Municipality and police are currently present at the scene. The final phase of the search operation awaits the arrival of a specialized K-9 unit from Heraklion, which will conduct a definitive sweep of the debris to ensure no one remains hidden within the structure. The area remains under strict police control.