Four US Tourists Among Six Killed in Blast Near Athens Acropolis

Four American tourists were among six people killed in Greece after a powerful explosion destroyed a residential building near Athens’ iconic Acropolis, officials said.

The four U.S. citizens — two men and two women believed to be traveling as two couples — were staying in the two-story building in Plaka, the historic neighborhood below the Acropolis. The area is close to several of Athens’ most popular tourist attractions. The blast struck Friday.

The couples were scheduled to take a 3 p.m. flight from Athens airport Friday but failed to arrive, a police source told Reuters. Documents and personal belongings found with the four victims suggested they were American citizens, Greece’s state broadcaster ERT and other local media reported.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, expressed sorrow over the deaths in a post on X.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of four American citizens in yesterday’s explosion in central Athens,” Guilfoyle wrote.

Emergency crews recovered six bodies from the ruins of the collapsed building Saturday, authorities said.

Firefighters had been searching the rubble for an elderly couple who lived in one apartment and four tourists who were staying in another. Crews removed the debris carefully and methodically, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said during a televised briefing.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the explosion was believed to have followed a major gas leak. Authorities opened an investigation after reports that people had noticed the smell of gas in the area.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Major Incident Declared at RAF Fairford as Nearby Residents Evacuated

The force of the blast obliterated the building and damaged nearby homes, businesses and vehicles. Rubble and broken glass were scattered as far as three blocks away, Reuters reported.

Video from the scene showed debris covering the street, with parked cars crushed under the falling wreckage. The building was left as a mass of twisted metal, shattered tiles and concrete, while clothing and household possessions lay scattered across the site.

The search-and-rescue effort included 30 firefighters and three dogs. Crews also deployed cameras and sensors to search beneath the debris.

Two women were injured in a neighboring building on Lysikratous Street, according to the fire department. Andreas Martzaklis, who lives nearby, told The Associated Press that all of the people rescued from the adjacent building were tourists.

A nearby church was also damaged. Its pastor said Sunday services would take place outdoors because of the impact from the explosion.