Overview
- The blast struck the Plaka neighborhood on Friday morning and collapsed a two‑story building, causing heavy damage to adjacent shops, homes and vehicles.
- Rescue teams continued working on Saturday with more than 30 firefighters, search dogs and heavy machinery hunting for survivors and any additional victims.
- Reports of fatalities are inconsistent: some official statements and outlets say two bodies were recovered including at least one U.S. tourist while another fire service report lists six dead, creating a disputed casualty count.
- Athens mayor Xaris Doukas and witnesses pointed to a gas installation on the building’s second floor and a strong smell of gas before the explosion, and authorities have opened an investigation and begun inspections of nearby structures.
- Local residents had warned municipal authorities about gas leaks and electrical risks about a year ago, a fact that raises questions about building safety, potential enforcement failures, and possible impacts on tourism and local inspections as investigators seek definitive causes.