Six people, including four American tourists, were killed after a residential building collapsed following an explosion in Athens’ popular Plaka district early Friday, authorities said.
The blast occurred at dawn in the neighbourhood, which is known for its large number of tourist accommodations. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said a gas leak was believed to be the likely cause of the explosion.
The other two victims were an elderly British man and his Greek wife, who lived on the second floor of the three-storey building, Greece’s state broadcaster ERT reported.
The American family of four had been staying in an apartment on the first floor. According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, they were preparing to leave for the airport later on Friday to return to the United States when the explosion occurred.
The blast caused the residential building to collapse and damaged nearby properties and vehicles along the street.
The New York Times reported that the American family consisted of a couple, their son and his girlfriend. Greek authorities had not immediately released their identities, ages or details about their place of origin in the United States.
Emergency and recovery operations continued at the site on Saturday. Reporters observed mechanical excavators clearing the rubble, while thermal-imaging cameras were being used as part of the search and assessment efforts.
Describing the incident as a major disaster, Mayor Doukas said the scale of the destruction was extraordinary.
