Four Americans Among Six Killed in Athens Building Explosion
A suspected gas leak is believed to have caused the blast that leveled a residential building in the historic Plaka district near the Acropolis.
Four American tourists were among six people killed when a building collapsed following an explosion in Athens' historic Plaka district on Friday. The U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, expressed her condolences, stating that the four Americans were believed to be two couples.
Emergency crews recovered six bodies from the rubble on Saturday. Firefighters had been searching for an elderly couple who lived in one apartment and the four tourists staying in another. The explosion destroyed the two-story building and caused damage to nearby homes, shops, and vehicles, with debris scattered as far as three blocks away.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast, but officials, including Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, believe a major gas leak may be responsible, following reports of a gas smell in the area.
The U.S. victims were expected to catch a flight from Athens airport on Friday afternoon but never appeared. Documents and belongings recovered at the scene indicated they were U.S. citizens, according to Greek state broadcaster ERT and other local media.
The search and rescue operation involved 30 firefighters and three dogs, utilizing cameras and sensors to comb through the debris. Two women were injured in an adjacent building, and a resident reported they were also tourists.
The explosion also damaged a nearby church, forcing its pastor to announce that Sunday services would be held outdoors.