Explosion Near Acropolis Claims Lives of American Tourists

Four American tourists, along with two other individuals, tragically lost their lives in Greece following a massive explosion that destroyed a residential building near Athens’ Acropolis. Greek officials provided details of the incident, describing the events surrounding the unfortunate event.

The Americans, comprising two men and two women, appeared to be two couples who were residing in a two-story building located in the historic Plaka district. This area is recognized as a popular neighborhood situated at the base of the Acropolis, attracting large numbers of visitors due to its proximity to well-known landmarks.

According to a police source speaking with Reuters, the tourists were expected to depart from Athens airport at 3 p.m. on Friday. However, they did not make it to the flight. Documentation and personal items discovered at the scene confirmed their American citizenship, supported by reports from Greek state broadcaster ERT and other local media outlets.

A statement by U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle expressed mourning for the victims. “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of four American citizens in yesterday’s explosion in central Athens,” Guilfoyle conveyed in a social media post.

Emergency responders recovered a total of six bodies from the demolished building on Saturday, as confirmed by authorities. Firefighters persistently searched through the debris, looking for an elderly couple residing in one apartment and the four tourists occupying another. The search involved careful removal of the rubble, which was documented in a televised briefing by fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.

The explosion was allegedly triggered by a significant gas leak, according to Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. Investigations into the cause are active, with reports indicating the presence of a gas odor in the surroundings.

Reuters detailed that the explosion destroyed the building and inflicted damage on adjacent properties, shops, and vehicles, dispersing rubble as far as three blocks away. Videos from the site revealed debris littered across the street with cars damaged beneath fallen rubble. The building’s wreckage largely comprised twisted metal, broken tiles, and concrete, mixed with scattered personal items.

The search-and-rescue operation was extensive, involving 30 firefighters, three dogs, and equipment like cameras and sensors to scrutinize the remains.

In an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, two women sustained injuries, as confirmed by the fire department. Resident Andreas Martzaklis told the Associated Press that individuals rescued from the neighboring structure were tourists.

Due to the explosion’s impact extending to a nearby church, Sunday’s services were planned outdoors, as it suffered damage from the incident.

Contributions to this report were made by the Associated Press and Reuters.