British national among six dead in Athens building blast

Six people were killed when a gas‑driven explosion destroyed a three‑storey building in Athens’ historic Plaka area, just steps from the Acropolis.

The victims included four American holidaymakers, a British tourist, and a Greek elderly couple who shared the building. Police confirmed that other local residents were missing when they failed to board a scheduled flight to Athens airport.

Emergency workers combed through rubble on a narrow road between the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, using excavators and thermal imaging cameras to search for survivors. A gas leak was cited as the suspected cause of the blast.

Athens mayor Haris Doukas described the incident as “an incredible disaster” and all six bodies were recovered by Saturday afternoon. Local media reported injuries from debris and temporary evacuations of nearby buildings.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said the government was in contact with Greek authorities and monitoring the situation closely.