Residents around Mesolongi Square in Pagrati are in shock after a man was found dead on Monday afternoon inside a first-floor apartment on Astydamantos Street.

According to neighbours, a strong foul smell had been coming from the apartment for at least 10 days, raising concerns that something had happened to the two brothers who lived there.

The brothers, who reportedly struggled with chronic mental health issues, had lived in the apartment for years. Neighbours said they rarely left the flat and had long caused concern in the building because of the condition of the home.

“They were both unwell. They didn’t fight, but the apartment always smelled bad and was in a very poor state. Over the past 10 days, though, the smell became unbearable. We hadn’t heard shouting or arguments between them,” a resident of a neighbouring building told protothema.gr.

Locals said they had not seen the two men outside for a long time, although one of the brothers would occasionally appear on the balcony.

“He used to sit on the balcony, but I hadn’t seen either of them outside for a year. They had been shut inside all that time. No one ever came out,” another local resident said.

“The smell had become very strong recently, and that is how they were eventually found. They had always lived here; the house belonged to them. Their parents had passed away,” the resident added.