Six dead in Athens building blast near Acropolis tourist zone
A blast in central Athens killed six people: four American tourists, one British national, and reportedly an elderly Greek couple.
An explosion destroyed a three-storey building in the Plaka district on Friday. The historic area is close to the Acropolis and other tourist sites.
Four American tourists, a British national, and reportedly an elderly Greek couple died. All six bodies were recovered by Saturday.
The blast completely collapsed the building and damaged nearby properties. Debris scattered across streets and residents were injured.
Emergency crews used excavators and thermal cameras to search the rubble. A gas leak is the suspected cause.
The tourists had missed their flight home.
- 6 people
- Dead
- Plaka district, Athens
- Location
- Gas leak
- Suspected cause
- Acropolis and Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Buildings nearby
Why it mattersA major building failure in one of Europe's most visited areas raises questions about safety standards in older structures.
AustraliaNo direct Australian casualties reported, but Australian travellers to Athens and Greece should be aware of the incident; the area remains a major tourist draw.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 40 min ago
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