Six dead, including four US tourists, in Athens building blast

A powerful explosion caused the collapse of a residential building in Athens’ historic Plaka neighborhood, killing six individuals. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the incident, which occurred on Friday morning.

Victims identified among debris

Greek fire brigade teams announced on Saturday that they had recovered the bodies of the six missing persons from under the rubble. The recovery operation involved rescue squads, trained dogs, cameras, and sensor equipment. Among the deceased were four American tourists, confirmed by US officials as two couples staying in one of the building’s apartments.

The American visitors were scheduled to depart Athens on a flight Friday but never arrived at the airport. The other two victims were an elderly couple residing in the same structure. The blast also injured people in a neighboring building, prompting authorities to establish a security perimeter around the site due to fears of further collapses.

Damage extends across streets

The explosion took place near major landmarks such as the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus. It resulted in significant damage to adjacent homes, shops, and vehicles, with debris and glass scattered up to three streets away. Initial reports indicated a smell of gas in the area prior to the detonation.

Harris Doukas, the mayor of Athens, stated that early indicators suggested a link between the incident and gas infrastructure. However, no final conclusion has been released yet. The Greek Fire Service’s investigative unit began examining the scene immediately after the collapse.

US confirms gas explosion cause

The US State Department later confirmed that the four American citizens died as a result of a gas explosion. While this determination was made, the ongoing Greek investigation continues to focus on the technical circumstances that led to the blast and the subsequent structural failure of the building.