Overview
- A powerful blast struck the Plaka district near Hadrian's Gate at about 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, toppling a multi‑storey residential building and shattering windows and cars on the street.
- Rescue teams recovered the people who were reported missing and officials have said up to six bodies were pulled from the rubble with formal identification still pending.
- Investigators and local officials say a leaking gas supply is the most likely trigger, and neighbours reported smelling gas before the explosion.
- Firefighters and search teams used heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and thermal imaging while work progressed slowly because unstable walls and damaged neighbouring buildings risked further collapse.
- Athens city planners and the gas operator are conducting wide safety checks and could order evacuations or removals of unsafe properties, a move that could disrupt tourism and require longer repairs in the heritage quarter.