Explosion fells building in heart of touristic Athens, three injured

An explosion in Athens' historic Plaka district on Friday caused a residential building to collapse, injuring three people and damaging nearby structures. The blast, near major tourist attractions like the Acropolis and Temple of Zeus, sent debris as far as three blocks away. Smoke engulfed the area as emergency services arrived on the scene.

Police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou stated the fire brigade was still investigating the cause of the blast. The impacted two-story building was left in ruins, with twisted metal, broken balconies, and hanging concrete slabs. Local resident Andreas Martzaklis described the extent of the damage, saying, "That's how strong it was - the whole building, the whole block blew off."

One passer-by was injured, while two women trapped in an adjacent building were rescued and received medical attention. The neighborhood is popular with tourists, featuring hotels, short-term rentals, cafes, and shops selling souvenirs. A police source confirmed that at least five people lived in the building, some of whom were rented out to tourists. It remains unclear if others were trapped during the incident.