Deadly blast rips through Athens building, near Acropolis

Rescuers have recovered the body of a young woman following a building collapse in Plaka, in central Athens, a Greek fire brigade official said Saturday.

The building was brought down by a large blast which injured three other people and damaged shops and cars near the site.

"The damage extends along the entire street as well as the street behind the building," said Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. "We are talking about an incredible disaster."

Several people, believed to be foreign nationals, remain missing.

On Saturday, Greek news agency ANA reported that the victim whose body was retrieved was an American tourist, sharing the holiday rental with her husband and another couple.

Cause of the blast still uncertain

Authorities suspect a gas leak caused the Friday blast, but the sequence of events was not immediately clear.

"Something went terribly wrong," Doukas said.

Local media reported the missing people included a Briton and a Greek woman who lived on the second floor, and four American tourists staying on the first floor.

While their nationalities have not been officially confirmed, a police official said the group of tourists had been expected to check in for a flight from Athens on early Friday afternoon.

Excavators on the scene

Rescuers were using sniffer dogs and thermal cameras to search for possible survivors. According to ANA, dozens of firefighters and six vehicles have been deployed to help with the search, including two specialized rescue vehicles.

Excavators were also deployed to clear the rubble, according to photos from the scene.

Plaka is close to many Athens most visited sites, including the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus.

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