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Blast strikes near the Acropolis
Six people, including four American tourists, were killed after an explosion caused a two-story home to collapse in Plaka, the historic Athens neighborhood near the Acropolis.
The explosion occurred on the morning of Sept. 25 and was believed to have involved a major gas leak. Rescue crews recovered six bodies from the rubble the following day.
The four Americans were identified through their passports and personal belongings. They had rented accommodations on the building’s first floor. A British and Greek couple lived on the second floor.
Authorities investigate gas equipment
Greek authorities are investigating whether a problem with the building’s gas system caused the blast. The search involved 30 firefighters, three rescue dogs and thermal-imaging cameras.
Debris from the explosion damaged parked vehicles, while two women in nearby buildings were injured. Some surrounding structures were damaged so severely that officials were considering whether they would need to be demolished.
Residents said they had raised concerns since last year about possible gas leaks and electrical short circuits in Plaka and had requested inspections.
Tourist district draws heightened attention
Plaka is one of Greece’s best-known tourist areas, located beside the Acropolis in the capital. News reports and footage of the collapse drove increased online interest in Greece on Sept. 27, alongside searches related to travel, maps, Athens, Santorini and airline tickets.
A video of the building collapse released Sept. 27 received 97,392 views that day. Interest in Greece was also elevated by the national soccer team’s UEFA Nations League match in Germany scheduled for the same date.
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