Explosion in Historic Athens District Leaves Five Missing, Including Tourists
A powerful blast suspected to be from a gas leak destroyed a building in Plaka, a popular tourist area near the Acropolis, and injured at least three people.
At least five people, including tourists, are missing following a significant explosion that destroyed a building in Athens' historic Plaka district on Friday morning. The blast occurred around 7:30 a.m. and is currently suspected to be the result of a gas leak.
The affected district, Plaka, is situated near prominent landmarks such as the Acropolis of Athens and the Temple of Zeus, making it a popular area for visitors.
Officials have confirmed five individuals are unaccounted for. Local media reports suggest three American tourists may be among the missing, though this has not been officially verified.
The explosion caused injuries to at least three people. Two women residing in an adjacent building were hospitalized with minor injuries, according to state television ERT. A passerby also sustained minor injuries from shrapnel.
Fire services reported that an elderly couple living on the top floor of the destroyed building and three tourists believed to be renting the apartment below are among the missing. A search and rescue operation, including a dog unit, is underway to locate any individuals trapped in the debris.
"A search and rescue operation with a dog is underway to find anyone who may be trapped," a fire department spokesperson told AFP. "We have learned that an elderly couple and three other people staying in a holiday rental were living in the building, and we are trying to determine whether they were there at the time of the explosion."
The two-story building was destroyed by the blast, and neighboring homes sustained damage. Windows were shattered in surrounding buildings, and nearby vehicles were damaged. After several hours of searching on Friday, no signs of the missing individuals had been discovered within the rubble.