Four American tourists were among six casualties in Greece after an explosion demolished a residential building near the Acropolis in Athens. Officials confirmed the Americans included two men and two women, thought to be two couples, staying in the renowned Plaka district.
The explosion occurred in a two-story building located in the historic Plaka neighborhood at the base of the Acropolis. This area is near major tourist sites. A police source reported that the couples had plans to leave Athens on a flight scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday but failed to arrive at the airport.
Greek state broadcaster ERT and other local media stated the victims were identified as U.S. citizens through documents and belongings discovered at the site.
The U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, expressed sorrow over the tragedy in a statement posted online, writing, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of four American citizens in yesterday’s explosion in central Athens.”
Emergency responders, working diligently among the wreckage, recovered six bodies from the ruins. They had been seeking an elderly couple who resided in part of the building and the four American tourists occupying another section, according to fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.
Authorities suspect a significant gas leak caused the explosion, announced Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. Officials are investigating after reports of a gas odor permeated the area before the explosion.
The blast severely damaged nearby structures, businesses, and vehicles, as reported by Reuters, with debris reaching up to three blocks away.
Witnesses saw extensive damage, including debris scattered across streets and parked cars crushed by the collapse. The building itself was a mass of twisted metal, shattered tiles, and concrete with household items strewn about.
Rescue operations utilized 30 firefighters with three dogs, supported by cameras and sensors to examine the debris sections.
Two women sustained injuries in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, as noted by the fire department. Local resident Andreas Martzaklis shared that those rescued from the nearby building were also tourists.
The damage reached a local church, impacting its structure such that the pastor declared Sunday services would be conducted outdoors.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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