Newlyweds, Brother, Pregnant Sister-in-Law Among Four Americans Killed in Athens Building Collapse

Four Americans, including a newly married couple, the bride's brother, and his pregnant wife, were killed in a building collapse in Athens, Greece, on September 25. The deceased have been identified as Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, 37, and his wife, Florida Hoxha, 34; her brother, Florin Hoxha, 36; and his wife, Eris Cani, who was five-and-a-half months pregnant.

Investigators suspect a gas leak triggered an explosion that caused their two-story Airbnb, located in the historic Plaka district near the Acropolis, to buckle. The group was scheduled to return to the U.S. on the day of the incident.

Kirkpatrick, a senior lawyer and Bronx native, and Florida Hoxha, a graduate of the City University of New York School of Law and Emory University, were married on August 30. They had spent a week in Mexico before traveling to Greece for their honeymoon.

Kirkpatrick worked as a research analyst and later in banking, most recently for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. His mother described him as "just a wonderful, incredible human being" with a "zest for life." She added that his wife was like "the sun in the solar system."

Florida Hoxha had worked for the New York Legal Assistance Group and reportedly held political aspirations, with a Westchester County legislator describing her as "smart, ambitious and devoted to her community."

Florin Hoxha, an Emory University alumnus, co-founded the construction company Prufock Builders. His wife, Eris Cani, was an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Touro College. Her career in pharmacy began as an intern at Rite Aid, and she held residencies at medical centers in Pennsylvania and Brooklyn.

Greek authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the collapse. While a gas leak is the primary suspicion for the apartment where the Americans were staying, officials are also inspecting adjacent buildings that have been deemed dangerous.