Six people, including four tourists, are missing after a blast flattened a two-storey building in Athens' Plaka district at about 7:30 a.m., likely caused by a major gas leak. Rescue teams worked through the night using heavy machinery, search dogs and thermal cameras to locate survivors. Two people were rescued and hospitalized; several nearby buildings and vehicles were damaged, and inspections are under way to assess structural safety.
Six Missing After Explosion Levels Building Below the Acropolis; Rescuers Search Overnight
The early morning blast on a small street shook the area, which is normally busy with hundreds of foreign visitors (Aris MESSINIS)
Six people, including four tourists, were reported missing after an early-morning explosion flattened a two-storey building in Athens' historic Plaka district, authorities said. Officials believe a large gas leak likely triggered the blast, which occurred at about 7:30 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Friday.
The collapsed building sits just below the Acropolis and close to Hadrian's Arch, a busy tourist corridor. Mayor Haris Doukas described the incident as an "unbelievable disaster" and said rescue teams were continuing operations through the night to locate any survivors beneath the rubble.
Rescue Efforts Under Way
Police and fire services reported that the number of people listed as missing rose from five to six during the evening. Public broadcaster ERT said the missing included a British national and a Greek woman who lived on the second floor, while the first floor had been rented by four American tourists as short-term accommodation.
Thirty firefighters with six vehicles, supported by three search-and-rescue dogs, were deployed, the Greek news agency ANA reported. Rescuers used excavators to clear debris and thermal imaging cameras to search for signs of life, while crews periodically paused to listen for sounds from potential survivors.
Wider Damage and Safety Concerns
Mayor Doukas warned that two neighboring buildings were left in precarious condition. Inspections have begun to determine whether adjacent structures can remain standing or require demolition for safety. Nearby properties and parked vehicles were also damaged by falling masonry.
Earlier in the day two women were rescued from an adjacent building and taken to hospital; another person sustained minor injuries from debris. The owner of a ground-floor apartment told Kathimerini he had been unable to reach the elderly couple who lived above his unit.
Key detail: Emergency crews are treating the explosion as most likely caused by a significant gas leak, but investigations are ongoing.
Authorities warned that the presence of tourists in Plaka — one of Athens' most visited neighborhoods — complicates the search and raises concern about how many people may have been in the area when the blast occurred. Emergency services and local officials said they would continue searches and safety inspections until the scene is secured.
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