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Explosion Collapses Building in Athens’ Plaka, One Dead and Six Missing

Blamed on a suspected major gas leak, rescue teams continue overnight searches while officials assess neighbouring buildings for safety

Overview

  • A two‑storey building in the tourist district of Plaka collapsed after an explosion on Friday, Sept. 25, and crews recovered the body of a woman on Saturday morning.
  • Authorities say six people remain unaccounted for, consisting of an elderly couple on the second floor and four tourists who rented the first‑floor unit.
  • Dozens of firefighters, heavy machinery, search dogs and thermal cameras are operating at the scene as teams work through the night to find survivors in the rubble.
  • City inspectors and national officials have begun structural checks of adjacent properties and have said some buildings may need evacuation or demolition for public safety.
  • Investigators are treating a major gas leak as the likely cause, with a specialised fire unit on site to carry out a forensic probe that could affect local tourism and street access near the Acropolis.