Overview
- A powerful explosion on Friday morning tore through a two‑storey building on Lysikratous Street in the Plaka district and caused the structure to collapse, injuring two to three people who were rescued from nearby buildings.
- Search‑and‑rescue teams remain on site using specialist disaster units, sniffer dogs, thermal cameras, drones and excavators to find multiple people reported missing, with early tallies varying between five and six unaccounted for.
- Authorities have opened a criminal and technical probe into the cause; local media and officials say a natural‑gas leak is suspected and the gas network operator was called to the scene.
- The blast sent masonry and glass across several blocks, damaged neighbouring homes, shops and vehicles, and has left a cordoned, tourism‑heavy area beneath the Acropolis under damage assessment.
- City crews have cut gas and electricity as a precaution and will carry out structural stability checks on nearby buildings while officials continue searches and prepare to confirm casualties and the incident’s cause.