A devastating blast in a residential building near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, has resulted in the deaths of six people, including four American tourists. The explosion occurred at dawn on Friday in the popular Plaka district, which is filled with tourist lodgings. According to officials, the blast was likely caused by a gas leak. The American family of four had been renting an apartment on the first storey of the three-storey building and were preparing to leave for the airport hours later to return to the United States.
The other two people killed in the blast were an elderly British man and his Greek wife who lived on the second storey of the building. The explosion brought down the residential building and damaged properties and vehicles along the street. The New York Times reported that the US family was composed of a couple, their son, and his girlfriend. However, Greek authorities did not immediately release their identities, ages, or where in the United States they came from.
On Saturday, mechanical diggers were seen moving debris at the site, and thermal-imaging cameras were deployed. Mayor Haris Doukas described the disaster as "incredible." He added that two nearby buildings were left in a dangerous state and that inspections were underway to determine if they could remain standing or if they also had to be demolished. The blast has raised concerns about safety in the area, which is one of Athens's most popular tourist destinations.
The nearby Acropolis, one of Greece's best-known landmarks, welcomed 4.6 million visitors last year. Locals in the Plaka neighborhood had warned the city and utility companies about the risk of gas leaks or short circuits a year ago, according to a letter by the residents' association. The residents had urged a fire drill to identify possible weaknesses in the emergency response plans for the district.
A citizens' group reported on social media that one resident in the street where the explosion happened had alerted authorities after smelling a possible gas leak. The owner of the ground-floor apartment, Mathaios Artavanis, told the Kathimerini daily that he was absent at the time of the blast and had tried to contact the UK-Greek couple who lived there, without success.
The blast has sparked an investigation into the cause of the gas leak and the safety of buildings in the area. Greek authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion and to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. The US Embassy in Athens has likely been notified of the incident, but there was no immediate comment from US officials.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the tourist industry in Athens, with many visitors and locals expressing concern about safety in the area. An investigation is ongoing, and officials are working to provide support to the families of the victims. The city is expected to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including increased inspections of buildings and safety checks on gas lines.
Key points
- Four American tourists were among six people killed in a building blast in Athens, Greece.
- The blast was likely caused by a gas leak in the popular Plaka district.
- The incident has raised concerns about safety in the area, which is one of Athens's most popular tourist destinations.
