A powerful explosion shook Athens’ historic Plaka district early Friday, causing a residential building to collapse and killing six people. Rescue crews recovered the last two bodies from the rubble on Saturday afternoon after a search lasting more than 24 hours.
The explosion struck the building on Lysikratous Street shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Friday, September 25, causing much of the structure to collapse and damaging neighboring buildings and parked vehicles. The blast was heard across parts of central Athens.
The victims included four American tourists who were staying in a short-term rental apartment and an elderly couple who lived in the building. The elderly couple were a 77-year-old British man and a 78-year-old Greek woman, according to reports.
The four Americans, reportedly two couples, had rented an apartment on the first floor of the building while visiting Athens.
They were identified as Florida Hoja and her husband, Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, and Eris Cani and her husband, Florin Hoja. Three of the four were of Albanian origin and held US citizenship.
Florida Hoja and Kirkpatrick had recently married and were visiting Greece on their honeymoon, according to Greek media reports.
The elderly couple who lived on the second floor were identified as Athina Papareskou and Edmond Hings.
Six killed in Athens’ Plaka building collapse
Rescue teams searched the ruins for more than 24 hours, gradually removing debris from the heavily damaged structure. The first body, a woman, was recovered during the early hours of Saturday. More victims were found as firefighters worked their way through the collapsed building, before the final two bodies were located at around 2 p.m., bringing the death toll to six and ending the search for the missing.
Around 30 firefighters with six vehicles took part in the operation, including specialist crews from Greece’s 1st Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK). Three trained search-and-rescue dogs were also deployed.
Rescuers used specialized acoustic equipment and cameras to search beneath the rubble, while heavy machinery supplied by the Municipality of Athens helped remove debris. Operations were periodically halted so rescuers could listen for possible signs of survivors.
Two women were also rescued from a neighboring building shortly after the explosion on Friday and taken to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital, while another person suffered minor injuries from debris.
@protothema.gr 🚨 Ισχυρή έκρηξη σημειώθηκε λίγο πριν τις 8:00 το πρωί σε διώροφο κτήριο στην οδό Λυσικράτους, στην Πλάκα. ‼️Σύμφωνα με τις πρώτες πληροφορίες πρόκειται για παλιό κτήριο απέναντι από τους Στύλους του Ολυμπίου Διός το οποίο έχει υποστεί σοβαρές ζημιές, ενώ ένας περαστικός έχει τραυματιστεί ελαφρά από θραύσματα. #protothema #news #greektiktok #tiktokgreece
Neighboring buildings damaged by explosion
The explosion caused extensive damage to the surrounding area, with several nearby buildings affected. Municipal engineers inspecting the site said at least three or four buildings had sustained damage, while neighboring properties were evacuated because of concerns over their structural stability.
The blast occurred in one of Athens’ busiest tourist districts, close to major landmarks including the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Gas leak among possible causes of Plaka explosion
The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation. A natural gas leak is among the possibilities being examined by authorities, after witnesses reported smelling gas around the time of the blast.
Athens Deputy Mayor for Technical Works Paris Charlavtis said preliminary information indicated that the building had autonomous gas installations, including units serving different parts of the property. Authorities have not established whether they were responsible for the explosion.
The Fire Service’s specialist investigation unit is examining the circumstances of the blast.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, who visited the site, described the scale of the destruction as extraordinary and said municipal crews were assisting emergency services throughout the rescue operation.
Authorities are also continuing structural inspections of neighboring buildings damaged by the explosion as the investigation into one of the deadliest building disasters in central Athens in recent years continues.
@news247gr ⚠️ Φόβοι για περισσότερους αγνοούμενους στο κτίριο που κατέρρευσε στην Πλάκα 🎞️Θοδωρής Παναγιωτίδης – NEWS 24/7, Orange Press Agency #Αθηνα #Πλακα #εκρηξη
Plaka
Plaka is Athens’ oldest historical neighborhood. The neighborhood itself was originally developed mostly around the ruins of the ancient Agora, and this area of Athens has continuously been inhabited since the days of Ancient Greece.
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