At least two people were injured and five others were missing after a building collapsed following a powerful explosion in the tourist area of Plaka in the Greek capital, near the ancient Acropolis, on Friday morning.
The authorities said, according to the Associated Press, that the explosion caused the collapse of a two-story building, and two injured people were rescued from a nearby building.
The fire department said that rescue teams, with the help of a police dog, are searching the rubble for the missing people.
The building collapsed, and neighboring buildings were damaged.
Residents said two people were living in one of the building’s apartments, and there were media reports that three tourists may have been staying in a short-term rental apartment in the building as well, the Associated Press reported.
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The fire department said it rescued two women and transported them to a local hospital.
The explosion occurred in the Plaka area, the historic part of Athens that lies at the foot of the Acropolis Hill, the most visited ancient landmark in Greece.
Fire service spokeswoman Effie Papaphramopoulou said Local outlet eKathimerini Neighbors provided authorities with information about an elderly couple living on the top floor of the collapsed building and three tourists who may have been in a short-term rental located in the basement of the collapsed building.
“We are doing everything we can,” Papavramopoulou said.
Firefighters work at the scene after a powerful explosion caused a building to collapse and injured at least two people in the Plaka district of Athens, Friday, September 25, 2026.
AFP Photos/Petros Giannakouris
The authorities said that the search and rescue operation was still continuing several hours after the explosion.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion, however Local media said A gas leak was suspected.
The gas network management company, Enaon EDA, told eKathimerini that it is investigating the cause of the explosion.
—With files from The Associated Press
&Copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
