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Explosion Partly Collapses Building in Athens’ Plaka

A suspected gas leak has prompted firefighters to seal the site for an ongoing investigation.

Overview

  • The blast, which occurred Friday morning around 7:30, partially collapsed a two‑storey building near Hadrian's Gate and sent a plume of smoke over the Plaka neighborhood.
  • Emergency crews sealed off the area, fought fires and deployed multiple fire vehicles to secure unstable structures and limit further damage.
  • At least one passerby was treated for minor injuries and two women were rescued from a neighboring building and taken to hospital as a precaution.
  • Authorities are treating a gas leak as the leading but unconfirmed cause and continue on‑site examinations and searches for possible occupants and tourists reported as missing.
  • Plaka's narrow streets and dense tourist traffic raise concerns about damage to local homes and businesses and potential effects on visitor access and conservation work around the Acropolis area.