Four American tourists among six killed in Athens building blast

A residential building in Athens' Plaka district exploded, killing six people. According to Channel News Asia, the blast was likely linked to gas infrastructure. The building, near popular tourist sites like the Acropolis and Temple of Zeus, was destroyed, damaging nearby houses, shops, and cars.

The victims included four American tourists, who were part of two couples, and two others. The tourists were expected to check out and depart from Athens airport on the day of the blast but did not show up, a police source told Channel News Asia. Emergency crews, assisted by rescue dogs, cameras, and sensors, found the bodies while removing debris from the building.

The cause of the blast is being investigated by the fire brigade's crime investigation unit, which reported a gas smell in the area. Euronews reported that a team from the Arson Crimes Division was also investigating the incident.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch, Channel News Asia, Euronews, RTE News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.