The blast tore through a narrow street just below the Acropolis, sending the structure into a jagged collapse that rattled the historic Plaka district. The area, normally packed with foreign tourists, was stunned as the building crumbled into the cobblestones.
Among the victims were a 70‑year‑old couple who lived on the second floor and three American tourists who had rented the first‑floor apartment. Authorities later updated the tourist count to four after the discovery of a bag belonging to one of the guests in the rubble.
Firefighters and police deployed a canine unit, excavators, and thermal‑imaging cameras to sift through the wreckage. Footage from ERT shows crews shoveling debris, while a spokesperson for the fire department confirmed that the search is ongoing.
The incident is being treated as a suspected gas‑leak explosion. Athens’ mayor, Haris Doukas, announced that city‑planning services will inspect adjacent buildings for safety, and a formal inquiry into the source of the leak will be held next week.
The collapse damaged neighboring structures and several parked cars, adding to the already chaotic scene. Greek police will keep the search open while the investigation into the gas leak proceeds, with the next step being a formal inquiry to determine responsibility.