One dead, 5 missing after explosion destroys building in Athens
ATHENS: A woman has died and five people are missing after a residential building collapsed following an explosion in a tourist area of central Athens, a Greek fire brigade official said on Saturday. The blast on Friday destroyed a two-storey building in Plaka, near some of Athens’ most visited sites including the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, injuring three people and damaging houses, shops…
ATHENS - A tragic incident unfolded on Friday as a two-storey residential building in the Plaka district, near popular landmarks such as the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, collapsed following an explosion. The blast resulted in the death of one woman and the disappearance of five others, including an elderly couple and four tourists.
Emergency services, equipped with rescue dogs, are currently searching for the missing individuals amidst the debris, with investigators finding the body of the deceased young woman early Saturday while removing rubble from the structure.
The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear; however, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas suggested on Friday that it may be related to the area's gas infrastructure, stating, "Something went terribly wrong." The tourists, whose nationalities have not been confirmed, were scheduled to check out of their accommodations on Friday afternoon, intending to catch a flight from Athens airport. They failed to arrive, prompting concerns among local authorities.
The collapsed building left behind a scene of devastation, with twisted metal, broken balconies, and hanging concrete slabs. Emergency crews are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals, bringing hope that they will be found unharmed. The Greek fire brigade official confirmed that emergency crews, along with rescue dogs, are actively engaged in the search efforts.
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