On Saturday, the Greek fire department stated that a two-story residential building in the tourist area of central Athens exploded and collapsed on Friday, resulting in the deaths of six individuals. Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, confirmed that four of the deceased were American citizens.
Ambassador Guilfoyle expressed deep sorrow for the four American citizens who lost their lives in the explosion incident in central Athens through a social media platform on Saturday.
“I express my deepest gratitude to the Greek emergency rescue personnel who have been tirelessly working at the scene. The U.S. Embassy is providing consular assistance and support to the families of the victims,” she said.
Fire department spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis mentioned in a televised briefing that emergency rescue personnel, dressed in heavy protective gear and red helmets, discovered the bodies of the six victims on Saturday with the help of search dogs, camera equipment, and sensors.
At the time of the explosion, four American tourists were staying in a two-story building in the historic Plaka district. According to Reuters, the powerful explosion destroyed the building, impacting surrounding homes, shops, and vehicles, scattering debris and shattered glass across three blocks.
A police source informed Reuters that the four American tourists, two couples, were scheduled to depart from Athens airport on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday, ambulances stood by at the scene, prepared to transport the bodies to the hospital for identification.
The area where the incident occurred is home to several hotels and short-term rental accommodations, with previous reports indicating a gas smell in the vicinity. A criminal investigation team from the fire department is on-site to determine the cause of the explosion.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas stated that the explosion is believed to have been triggered by a severe gas leak.
Footage from the scene shows debris scattered throughout the streets, with cars parked along the roadside damaged. The destroyed building remains as twisted metal, shattered tiles, and concrete rubble, with clothing and various household items strewn amidst the ruins.