One dead, five missing after explosion destroys building in central Athens

One person has died and five others remain missing after an explosion caused a residential building to collapse in Athens’ historic Plaka district, near the Acropolis, Greek authorities said.

The blast occurred on Friday morning, September 25, in the two-storey building on Lysikratous Street, a heavily visited area close to the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The explosion also damaged nearby buildings, shops and vehicles, while debris and broken glass were scattered across the surrounding streets.

Firefighters recovered the body of a woman from the rubble early Saturday as rescue teams continued searching for five people believed to have been inside the building. The missing include an elderly couple who lived on the upper floor and people who had been staying in a short-term rental in the building.

Three people were also injured in the explosion. Two women were rescued from a neighbouring building and taken to hospital, while a passer-by suffered injuries from the blast and debris.

Rescue crews have been working through the unstable remains of the building with specialist equipment, thermal cameras and search dogs. Heavy machinery is being used carefully to remove the rubble as emergency workers continue looking for survivors.

The exact cause of the explosion has not been officially established. Authorities are investigating several possibilities, with a problem involving the building’s natural-gas installation among the scenarios being examined. Greece’s natural-gas distribution company has also been involved in the investigation.

The blast struck one of Athens’ busiest tourist districts, where hotels, short-term rental properties, restaurants and shops are located among historic buildings and narrow streets.

The incident caused significant damage beyond the collapsed structure, with nearby properties and parked vehicles affected by the force of the explosion. Authorities have also evacuated some neighbouring buildings because of concerns about their stability while the rescue operation continues.

Authorities have yet to establish the identities and final whereabouts of all those believed to have been in the building. The search operation remains ongoing.