Six people were found dead in the rubble of a building that collapsed after a powerful explosion in Athens’ historic Plaka district on Friday. Four of the victims were American tourists.
Four Americans were among the victims after an explosion brought down a residential building in Athens’ historic Plaka district.
The blast occurred Friday morning in the Plaka neighborhood which sits at the foot of the Acropolis and is popular with tourists. Emergency teams worked through debris using sniffer dogs and specialized equipment to locate those who had been reported missing. The search ended after all six bodies were recovered.
About thirty firefighters and three rescue dogs were involved in the search effort. Crews also used cameras and sensors while searching the wreckage.
Two women were injured in a neighboring building according to fire service reports. Another person suffered minor injuries from flying debris. The explosion caused extensive damage in the surrounding area including parked cars and nearby buildings.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the blast. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the explosion was likely linked to gas infrastructure.
The victims included four American tourists who had been staying in a short-term rental. An elderly British man and a Greek woman who lived in another apartment were also among the six people killed.
According to Reuters the four Americans were two men and two women. U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle confirmed that four American citizens had died in the explosion.
Investigators are now working to determine what caused the explosion. Emergency crews and authorities remained at the site as the investigation continued.
IMAGE: Source Own work Author George E. Koronaios CC4