Athens building blast leaves six missing as rescuers search rubble, gas leak suspected

Emergency personnel operate at the site of an old building that partially collapsed following an explosion in the Plaka area of central Athens on September 25, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 26 Sep 2026 9:28 AM MYT

ATHENS, Sept 26 — Six people, including four tourists, were missing after a building collapsed following an explosion early Friday in Athens’ historic Plaka district, which was probably caused by a huge gas leak.

The city’s mayor Haris Doukas called the blast an “unbelievable disaster” and said there was a strong possibility of an “explosion triggered by... a very significant gas leak” that led to the collapse of the two-storey building at around 7.30am (0430 GMT).

The building is just below the Acropolis.

According to police, the number of missing people rose from five to six in the evening.

“Operations are continuing, all the machinery is here, the search will go on throughout the night,” Doukas said at the scene.

“These are difficult hours. We stop whenever necessary to keep silent, so we can see if we can hear any sound” made by possible survivors, he added.

According to public television channel ERT, those missing include a Briton and a Greek woman who lived on the second floor, while four American tourists were staying in short-term rental accommodation on the first floor.

The blast on a small street shook the area, which is normally busy with hundreds of foreign visitors.

The fire service had earlier said those missing included two elderly people who lived on the building’s top floor and three tourists believed to have rented the apartment below.

Thirty firefighters were deployed with six vehicles and three search and rescue dogs, according to the Greek news agency ANA.

Excavators were clearing the rubble while rescuers used thermal cameras at the scene, according to images released by AFP.

“The damage extends along the entire street as well as the street behind the building,” the mayor said.

“We are talking about an incredible disaster,” he said, adding that two adjoining buildings were in very poor condition.

“Inspections have begun to determine whether they can remain standing or whether they too must be demolished.”

Earlier, two women were rescued from an adjacent building and taken to hospital, while another person was slightly injured by debris.

Neighbouring buildings and vehicles parked nearby were damaged.

The owner of the ground-floor apartment, Mathaios Artavanis, told the Kathimerini news outlet he had tried to contact “the elderly couple, around 70 years old” without success.

The Plaka district is one of the most touristy areas of Athens and is near Hadrian’s Arch, one of the main monuments from the Roman period in the Greek capital, where the tourist season continues to be in full swing. — AFP