The blast occurred on Friday morning in Plaka, a historic district of Athens, the Greek capital, and completely destroyed a building. Greece’s public broadcaster ERT, cited by Anadolu Agency, reported that rescuers found the bodies of a woman and three other people beneath the rubble. At least four people have been reported dead. The rescue operation continues, with authorities believing two more people may still be trapped.
Initial reports said one of the victims may be a US woman on holiday in Athens. She and her family had rented one of the apartments in the collapsed building for a short stay. Her identity has not been officially confirmed. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.
The blast badly damaged two neighbouring buildings. A driver passing the scene suffered minor injuries, while firefighters rescued two women from a damaged adjacent building. Search-and-rescue work is continuing as authorities investigate what caused the explosion.