In brief
A blast on a small road in Athens’ Plaka district killed six people, including a British national, four US holidaymakers, and a Greek elderly couple. The three‑storey holiday‑rental building collapsed, with nearby structures damaged and residents evacuated. Gas leaks are suspected to have caused the explosion. Emergency services recovered all bodies by Saturday afternoon and searched the rubble for survivors. Authorities condemn the incident as an “incredible disaster.”
A building in Athens’ historic Plaka district collapsed after a blast that killed six people, including a British national, a Greek elderly couple, and four Americans. The incident occurred on a narrow road between the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Witnesses and photographs show the three‑storey structure reduced to rubble, its surface littered with household items. Neighbouring buildings suffered damage and emergency crews were forced to evacuate residents.
Police and investigators say a gas leak is the most likely cause of the explosion. Thermal imaging cameras and excavators have searched the wreckage for survivors, but all bodies were recovered by the afternoon of Saturday.
Athens mayor Haris Doukas called the tragedy an “incredible disaster,” while the UK Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with local authorities. The deceased nationals were listed as missing by Greek police after they failed to board a flight from Athens airport on Friday.
The site remains a focal point for emergency services, with ongoing efforts to assess structural damage and prevent further threats in the bustling tourist area.
