Egyptian worker killed on shopping mall site
An Egyptian laborer died under tons of concrete in the heart of Athens yesterday, during work to refurbish one of the city’s landmark buildings ahead of the Summer Olympics. Desuki Eid, 39, had been working together with his brother, Atya, on the upper floors of the huge Army Fund building – which lies between Panepistimiou, Amerikis, Stadiou and Voukourestiou Streets – when a staircase collapsed on top of them. Rescuers pulled out Atya Eid with light injuries, but his brother was crushed to death. Shortly after the accident, which took place around 1 p.m., some 50 members of the builders’ union protested outside the 1930s building, which is being converted into a shopping center that was due to open in a few months. Earlier this month, Brussels threatened Greece with legal action unless it implemented EU rules on work safety.
