Six dead after massive explosion and house collapse in Athens

After the serious explosion in a house in the Athens old town of Plaka, a total of six dead people were recovered from the rubble of the collapsed building - all the people who were initially missing. The victims have not yet been officially identified, reported the news channel ERTNews, citing the rescue workers.

However, it is believed that it was an older couple who lived on the second floor. The other victims are said to be US citizens who were staying in a holiday apartment on the first floor of the house.

The three-story house collapsed around 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning after a violent explosion and a fire also broke out.

Initially, there were reports of a passer-by who was slightly injured by flying debris. Two women who were rescued from a neighboring house were also taken to hospital as a precaution. Then the search for possible residents of the house began.

The search for the missing people and the rescue work progressed slowly because walls are said to still be in danger of collapsing. Neighboring buildings are also at risk, ERTNews reported. When looking for the cause, the experts concentrate on a possible gas leak; Residents claim to have smelled gas before the explosion.