A blast in Athens' tourist district of Plaka has left two people dead and a British national among four people still missing, a Greek fire brigade official said on Saturday. The explosion on Friday morning caused a building to collapse, prompting a large-scale rescue operation in the Greek capital.
Fatalities and Missing Identified
The body of a woman was recovered early on Saturday, and a Greek fire official later confirmed that the body of a man had also been found. Local officials cited by AFP said the two fatalities are believed to be an American man and woman.
An elderly British national and a Greek citizen who lived in the building are thought to be among those still missing, along with two US tourists. Three people were also injured in the incident.
Rescue Operation Underway
Police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou told public broadcaster ERT: "It is not easy as the biggest part of the building has collapsed and there is risk for adjacent buildings which have been evacuated for security reasons."
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the blast had damaged neighbouring buildings, which had since been evacuated. The people rescued by the fire department from the adjacent building were all tourists, resident Andreas Martzaklis claimed.
Impact on the Area
Footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by falling debris. The search and rescue involved 30 firefighters and three dogs. An investigation into the blast was underway.
The pastor of a nearby church said that this Sunday's service would be held outdoors because of damage to the church. Plaka is a neighbourhood popular among tourists due to its proximity to key landmarks including the Acropolis and Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is also filled with restaurants and shops, attracting visitors.
