Explosion in Athens Collapses Building, Injures Two

A powerful explosion in Athens' historic Plaka district on Friday morning caused a building to collapse and injured at least two people, authorities reported. The blast occurred in an old two-story building in the Plaka district, situated at the foot of the Acropolis hill.

Firefighters rescued two women from a neighboring building, who were transported to a hospital. Local media also reported a passer-by sustained minor injuries. Police cordoned off the area, and rescue teams, including a sniffer dog, were deployed to search for any individuals who might still be trapped within the collapsed structure. Initial reports suggested up to five people could have been inside the building at the time of the explosion, though this could not be immediately confirmed.

The search and rescue operation continued for several hours after the incident. The pastor of a nearby church stated that Sunday services would be held outdoors due to damage sustained by the church from the blast. "From the bottom to the top, there is no window that has not been broken," said Giotis Kantartzis, pastor of the First Greek Evangelical Church in Athens, describing the scene inside the damaged church.

Video footage from the scene depicted rubble scattered across the street and parked vehicles damaged by falling debris. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with a gas leak being the suspected reason according to local media reports.