Four American tourists were among six people killed after an explosion caused a residential building to collapse in Athens, Greece.
The blast occurred on Friday morning in the historic Plaka district, near the Acropolis and other major tourist attractions. The two-storey building was severely damaged and eventually collapsed, sending rubble and debris across surrounding streets.
The four Americans, travelling as two couples, were staying in a short-term rental apartment on the first floor. They were expected to leave Athens later on Friday and had flights booked from the city’s airport, but failed to arrive for their scheduled departure, prompting authorities to include them among those missing.
The other two victims were an elderly couple who lived in the building. The man was British and his wife was Greek, according to reports. All six bodies were recovered from the rubble on Saturday after emergency crews worked for more than 24 hours using rescue dogs, cameras and specialised detection equipment.
Three other people were injured in the blast, while nearby homes, shops and vehicles were damaged by the explosion and falling debris.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said it was likely connected to gas infrastructure, while emergency officials said the exact cause had not yet been established. Reports of a gas smell in the area before the explosion are also being investigated.
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