Gas explosion kills 6 people in residential building in Plaka district of Athens, Greece

A two-story residential building exploded and collapsed yesterday in Plaka, a well-known tourist area in the center of Athens, the Greek capital, due to a suspected gas leak. Fire authorities confirmed today that six people were killed, four of whom may have been American tourists.

Reuters reported that Plaka is close to some of Athens' most popular attractions, such as the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, and there are many hotels and short-term rentals near the explosion building. After the incident, rescuers searched among the ruins for an elderly couple living in one of the apartments and four tourists staying in another apartment.

A spokesman for the Athens Fire Brigade said in a televised briefing today that rescuers wearing heavy equipment found six bodies with the help of search and rescue dogs, cameras and sensors. An ambulance is on standby today, preparing to send the body to the hospital for identification.

A police source told Reuters that the four tourists the search and rescue personnel were looking for were two American couples. They were originally scheduled to board a flight from Athens Airport at 3 pm yesterday, but they never checked in at the airport.

The explosion affected nearby homes, shops and vehicles, spewing rubble and broken glass as far as three blocks away. Before the incident, a gas smell was reported nearby. Afterwards, the mayor of Athens said that the explosion was likely related to a gas facility. The fire brigade's criminal investigation team attended the scene today to determine the cause of the explosion.