An Athens building collapse following an explosion has killed an American couple and left four people missing in the historic Plaka district beneath the Acropolis, Greek officials said.
The couple had been staying in a tourist-rental apartment on the first floor of the small, two-storey building. Their identities have not been released.
Among those still unaccounted for are an elderly British man and a Greek woman who shared an apartment, according to rescue officials.
Rescuers continued searching the wreckage, using mechanical diggers and thermal-imaging cameras. About 30 rescuers and three sniffer dogs were reported to be working at the scene.
Athens mayor Haris Doukas said the blast was likely caused by a gas leak. “We are talking about an incredible disaster,” he said, adding that buildings along the street and behind the collapsed property had also been damaged.
Two nearby buildings were left in a dangerous condition, Mr Doukas said. Inspections were under way to establish whether they could remain standing or would also need to be demolished.
The incident took place in Plaka, one of Athens’s most popular tourist areas. The nearby Acropolis, one of Greece’s best-known landmarks, received 4.6 million visitors last year.
Residents had warned the city and utility companies about the risk of gas leaks or short circuits in a letter issued a year ago. They also called for a fire drill to identify possible weaknesses in emergency plans for the neighbourhood.
