Athens building blast leaves six missing as rescuers search rubble, gas leak suspected

ATHENS, September 26 — Six people, including four American tourists, have gone missing after a building collapsed in Athens' historic Plaka district due to a suspected gas leak, according to sources. The city's mayor, Haris Doukas, described the incident as an "unbelievable disaster" and believed a significant gas leak likely triggered the explosion, which occurred around 7:30 am.

The two-story building, located near the Acropolis, partially collapsed, leaving rescue teams to search through the rubble. As the number of missing persons increased from five to six, authorities continued their search throughout the night, employing thermal cameras and excavators to clear the debris. The area affected by the blast is one of the most popular tourist spots in Athens, close to Hadrian's Arch and the Roman period monuments.

Among those missing are a British citizen and a Greek woman who lived on the second floor, while four American tourists were staying on the first floor in a short-term rental. The mayor also noted that two elderly individuals living on the building's top floor and three tourists who rented the apartment below are also missing. Rescue efforts involved 30 firefighters and six vehicles, along with three search and rescue dogs.

The damage from the blast extends to the entire street and the one behind it, with neighboring buildings and parked vehicles also experiencing damage.