Four American tourists among six killed in Athens building blast

American tourists were among six individuals killed in a building explosion in Athens, Greece on Friday morning, according to officials. The blast, located in the tourist-filled Plaka district near the Acropolis, likely resulted from a gas leak, said city mayor Haris Doukas. The American family of four resided on the first floor of a three-story building and were set to depart for the airport later that day.

They were joined by an elderly British man and his Greek wife, whose deaths were confirmed along with three others. The incident caused significant damage to surrounding properties and vehicles. Greek authorities have not disclosed the identities, ages, or nationalities of the deceased. The mayor described the disaster as "incredible," noting that two adjacent buildings were in a dangerous state, requiring further inspections to determine their safety.

The Plaka neighborhood, known for its popularity among tourists, had previously received warnings about potential gas leaks or short circuits from local residents.