Greece Blast Videos: 6 Dead, Including 4 US Citizens, After Athens Building Collapses
Rescuers recovered six bodies, including four US citizens, from the rubble of a two-story building that collapsed following a suspected gas explosion in Athens’ historic Plaka district near the Acropolis. Two others were injured in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street. Authorities and Greek fire brigades have launched a formal investigation.
Rescuers combing through the rubble of a building that collapsed in a blast in the Greek capital’s tourist district of Plaka, near the ancient Acropolis, recovered six bodies on Saturday, September 26, authorities said. The fatal explosion, which occurred on Friday morning, September 25, flattened a two-story residential structure in the historic heart of Athens and damaged several adjacent properties, triggering an extensive multi-agency search and recovery operation.
Greek state TV ERT and other local media reported that personal documents and belongings of four of the victims, two men and two women, identified them as US citizens. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed to NBC News that four Americans were killed as a result of the explosion. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones on their loss,” the spokesperson said. Bangkok Flood Videos: Disaster Emergency Declared Across All 50 Districts As Relentless Rain Submerges Thai Capital.
Greece Building Collapse Kills 6, Including 4 Americans
Suspected Gas Leak Causes Structure Collapse in Greece
The blast on Friday morning was believed to have been caused by a massive gas leak, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said. He added that neighboring buildings were also damaged and were evacuated. The fire department said six bodies were recovered in the rubble of the two-story house in Plaka, the historic part of Athens that lies at the foot of the Acropolis hill, Greece’s most visited ancient monument.
Two women were injured in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, fire brigades said. Specialised search teams worked through the debris using sniffer dogs, acoustic sensors, and heavy clearance machinery before bringing the recovery phase to a close on Saturday afternoon.
Emergency Search Teams Deploy to Lysikratous Street
The search and rescue involved 30 firefighters and three dogs. An investigation into the blast was underway. Video footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by falling debris. The people rescued by the fire department from the adjacent building were all tourists, resident Andreas Martzaklis said.
The force of the detonation shattered storefronts and shook residential buildings across adjacent blocks. The pastor of a nearby church said that this Sunday’s service would be held outdoors because of damage to the church.
Municipal engineers and the fire brigade's specialized investigation unit remain on site to inspect structural stability and evaluate underground utilities. Authorities are gathering statements from nearby property owners and evaluating municipal records following initial reports of gas odors in the area prior to the explosion.
The Greek capital’s Plaka neighborhood, renowned for its neoclassical architecture and narrow stone alleys, draws millions of international visitors annually due to its direct proximity to major archaeological landmarks.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2026 07:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).