In brief
In a tragic event near Athens’ Acropolis, a three‑storey building collapsed after a suspected gas leak, killing six people. The victims included four American holidaymakers, a British national and a Greek elderly couple who lived in the same building. Emergency teams combed through rubble, recovering all bodies by Saturday afternoon. Authorities are investigating the cause, while locals report injuries from scattered debris.
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.
