Four American tourists were among six people killed when a powerful explosion destroyed a two-story residential building in central Athens, Greek authorities said. The blast struck the historic Plaka district at the foot of the Acropolis, one of the Greek capital's most heavily visited areas, and reduced the structure to twisted metal, broken tiles, and concrete.
The four Americans — two men and two women believed to be two couples — were staying in the building when the explosion occurred Friday, according to officials. The two couples had been expected to catch a flight from Athens airport at 3 p.m. Friday but never appeared, a police source told Reuters. Documents and belongings recovered with the victims indicated they were U.S. citizens, according to Greek state broadcaster ERT and other local media.
Emergency crews searching through the rubble recovered six bodies from the collapsed building on Saturday. Fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in a televised briefing that firefighters had been searching for an elderly couple who lived in one apartment and the four tourists staying in another as crews painstakingly removed debris. The search-and-rescue operation involved 30 firefighters and three dogs, while teams also used cameras and sensors to comb through the wreckage.
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle mourned the victims in a post on X. «I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of four American citizens in yesterday's explosion in central Athens,» Guilfoyle wrote.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the explosion was believed to have been caused by a major gas leak. Authorities were investigating the cause after reports of a gas smell in the area. The powerful blast damaged nearby homes, shops, and vehicles, sending rubble and shattered glass as far as three blocks away, Reuters reported. Video from the scene showed debris strewn across the street and parked cars crushed beneath falling rubble, with clothing and household belongings scattered among the wreckage.
Two women were injured in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, according to the fire department. Resident Andreas Martzaklis told the Associated Press that all those rescued from the neighboring building were tourists.
The damage extended to a nearby church, where the pastor said Sunday services would be held outdoors because the building had been damaged in the explosion. The blast struck a neighborhood that sits close to some of Athens' most famous landmarks, an area that draws visitors from around the world and is central to the city's tourism economy.
Authorities have not announced a final determination on the cause of the blast, and the investigation into the reported gas smell and the condition of the building's infrastructure is continuing. The identification of the American victims was based on documents and belongings found with them, local media reported, as Greek and U.S. officials worked to confirm details and notify relatives.