Six bodies recovered after building blast in Athens
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, reports BritPanorama.
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 U.S. citizens.
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 reported that six bodies were found in the rubble of the two-story house in Plaka, a historic area of Athens that lies at the foot of the Acropolis hill, Greece’s most visited ancient monument.
Additionally, two women were injured in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, according to fire brigades.
The search and rescue operation involved 30 firefighters and three dogs, with an investigation into the blast now underway.
Video footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars damaged by falling debris. Local resident Andreas Martzaklis mentioned that the individuals rescued by the fire department from the adjacent building were all tourists.
The pastor of a nearby church announced that this Sunday’s service would be held outdoors due to damage sustained by the church.
