The Greek Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the six victims of a deadly explosion and building collapse in Athens' historic Plaka district have been identified. The victims include four US citizens, one Briton, and one Greek national. The ministry expressed its condolences to the families and relatives of the victims on the social media platform X. The six individuals had initially been reported missing after the explosion, and their bodies were later recovered from the rubble.
According to Greek media reports, the US victims were two married couples. One of the women was reportedly pregnant. The couples had been staying in a holiday flat on the first floor of the building and were due to fly back to the United States on the day of the accident. They had already checked in for their return flight but never appeared at the airport, citing police sources. The other two victims, a Briton and a Greek woman, had been living on the second floor.
The three-storey building collapsed on Friday morning at around 7:30 am local time, following a powerful explosion that also triggered a fire. A passer-by was slightly injured by debris, and two women from a neighbouring building were taken to hospital as a precaution. The incident occurred in the historic Plaka district of Athens, a popular tourist area.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with experts examining a possible gas leak among other causes. Residents had reportedly noticed the smell of gas before the explosion. Greek authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to ensure that such an incident does not occur in the future.
The Greek government has been working closely with the US and UK embassies to provide support to the families of the victims. The incident has raised concerns about building safety and gas leaks in the area. Local authorities have urged residents and visitors to report any concerns about gas leaks or building safety.
The explosion and building collapse have sparked an outpouring of support from the local community, with many residents offering condolences to the families of the victims. The incident has also highlighted the importance of ensuring that buildings in tourist areas meet safety standards to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to identify any measures that can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Greek government has promised a thorough investigation and has expressed its commitment to providing support to the families of the victims.
Key points
- The six victims of the Athens explosion have been identified as four US citizens, one Briton, and one Greek national.
- The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with experts examining a possible gas leak among other causes.
- The incident has raised concerns about building safety and gas leaks in the area.
