Four Americans were among six people killed after an explosion and building collapse in Athens’ tourist district of Plaka near the Acropolis on Friday, officials said.
The blast, which occurred at dawn, was likely caused by a gas leak, according to Athens Mayor Haris Doukas.
The two other 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 renting an apartment on the first floor. According to the Kathimerini newspaper, they were preparing to head to the airport hours later on Friday for their return to the United States when the explosion happened.
The blast brought down the residential building and damaged properties and vehicles along the street.
Two other women in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street were injured, fire brigades said, according to the Associated Press.
The New York Times reported that the American family consisted of a couple, their son and his girlfriend. Greek authorities have not yet released their identities, ages or where in the United States they came from.
On Saturday, AFP reporters observed mechanical diggers clearing debris at the scene while thermal imaging cameras were deployed to search for any remaining victims.
Mayor Doukas described the incident as an incredible disaster. He added that two nearby buildings had been left in a dangerous condition, with inspections ongoing to determine whether they could remain standing or would need to be demolished.
The owner of the ground floor apartment, Mathaios Artavanis, told Kathimerini daily that he was away at the time of the blast. He said he later tried to contact the British-Greek couple who lived there but could not reach them.
Video footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by falling debris. Resident Andreas Martzaklis said those rescued by the fire department from the neighbouring building were all tourists.
The pastor of a nearby church said Sunday’s service would be held outdoors due to damage to the building.
A year ago, locals in the Plaka neighbourhood had warned the city and utility companies about the risk of gas leaks or short circuits, according to a letter by the residents’ association published by Kathimerini. They had called for a fire drill to identify weaknesses in emergency response plans for the district.
A citizens’ group said on social media that a resident on the street where the explosion occurred had alerted authorities after smelling a suspected gas leak.
The neighbourhood is one of Athens’ most popular tourist areas. The nearby Acropolis, one of Greece’s best known landmarks, welcomed 4.6 million visitors last year.
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