Six dead after explosion collapses residential building in Athens

• Search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of four American tourists staying in a short-term rental and an elderly couple.
• While emergency crews cleared debris, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas stated the explosion was likely triggered by a fault in the gas infrastructure.

Rescue workers have recovered six bodies from the rubble of a collapsed residential building in the historic Plaka neighborhood of central Athens following a powerful explosion on Friday morning.

The blast occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Lysikratous Street, a popular tourist area located directly beneath the Acropolis. The impact completely leveled the small multi-story structure, scattering debris across the street and damaging nearby properties and vehicles.

Hellenic Fire Department emergency crews, utilizing heavy machinery, thermal imaging devices, and search dogs, conducted a 24-hour operation to locate missing occupants beneath concrete slabs and twisted metal.

Officials confirmed that the six fatalities include four American tourists staying in a first-floor short-term rental unit who failed to appear for their scheduled flight home on Friday. In addition to a 77-year-old British man and his 78-year-old Greek wife who lived in the building’s upper-story apartment.

At least three additional individuals, including residents in adjacent properties and a pedestrian, sustained injuries from flying glass and debris and received medical treatment.

Local authorities and specialized fire department investigators are actively examining the site to determine the precise cause of the blast. 

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas stated that preliminary evidence points toward a gas leak within the building or connected municipal network, noting that neighboring structures are being inspected for structural safety.