Four American tourists among 6 killed after explosion levels building near Athens’ Acropolis

Four American tourists were among six people killed in Greece when a devastating explosion leveled a residential building near Athens’ famed Acropolis, according to officials.

The four Americans — two men and two women believed to be two couples — were staying in the two-story building in the historic Plaka district, the historic neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis and close to some of Athens’ most heavily visited landmarks, when the blast struck Friday.

The two couples had been expected to catch a flight from Athens airport at 3 p.m. Friday but never showed up, a police source told Reuters. Documents and belongings recovered with the four victims indicated they were U.S. citizens, according to Greek state broadcaster ERT and other local media.

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U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle mourned the victims in a post on X.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of four American citizens in yesterday’s explosion in central Athens,” Guilfoyle wrote.

Emergency crews searching through the rubble recovered six bodies from the collapsed building Saturday, authorities said.

Firefighters had been searching for an elderly couple who lived in one apartment and four tourists staying in another as crews painstakingly removed debris, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in a televised briefing.

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The explosion was believed to have been caused by a major gas leak, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said. Authorities were investigating the cause after reports of a gas smell in the area.

The powerful blast destroyed the building and damaged nearby homes, shops and vehicles, sending rubble and shattered glass as far as three blocks away, Reuters reported.

Video from the scene showed debris strewn across the street and parked cars crushed beneath falling rubble. The destroyed building was reduced to twisted metal, broken tiles and concrete, with clothing and household belongings scattered among the wreckage.

The search-and-rescue operation involved 30 firefighters and three dogs, while crews also used cameras and sensors to comb through the debris.

Two women were injured in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, according to the fire department. Resident Andreas Martzaklis told the Associated Press that all those rescued from the neighboring building were tourists.

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The damage extended to a nearby church, where the pastor said Sunday services would be held outdoors because the building had been damaged in the explosion.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.