Plaka Explosion: Woman Found Dead as Rescuers Search for Five Missing People

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A woman has been found dead inside the wreckage of a collapsed building in Athens’ historic Plaka district, as rescuers continue a desperate search for five other people believed to be missing following a powerful explosion.

The blast struck the two storey building on Lysikratous Street shortly before 8am on Friday, September 25, causing the structure to collapse and damaging nearby buildings and vehicles. The explosion was heard across central Athens.

The woman was recovered from the first floor during the overnight search operation.

Authorities are now searching the ruins for five other people who are believed to have been inside the building when the explosion occurred.

Those being sought are understood to include an elderly couple who lived on the second floor and three American tourists who had rented the first floor apartment.

Earlier reports indicated that four American tourists, described as two couples aged between 30 and 40, had been staying in the short term rental. Investigators found a woman’s bag containing a rental agreement, along with US passports bearing the names Ian and Florida, among the debris.

The tourists had reportedly been due to take a Delta flight from Athens to the United States on Friday afternoon but did not appear for the flight.

Intensive search operation

The search and rescue operation continued through the night and into Saturday.

Around 30 firefighters are operating at the scene with six vehicles, including two specialist rescue vehicles from the 1st EMAK emergency response unit.

Three search and rescue dogs are also being used.

Rescuers are working with specialist sound detection equipment and cameras designed to locate people trapped beneath the rubble. Heavy machinery is being used to gradually remove debris, with work and other activity periodically halted so rescuers can listen for signs of life.

A specialist unit from the Fire Department’s Arson Crimes Division remains at the scene as investigators work to establish what caused the blast.

Elderly couple also feared trapped

The second floor was reportedly occupied by an elderly couple, a 78 year old woman who was born in Athens and a 77 year old British man.

Police attempted to contact them by telephone but received no response.

The building’s ground floor was reportedly unoccupied.

Two women rescued from neighbouring building

Two women were rescued from an adjacent building shortly after the explosion.

They were taken by ambulance to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital for medical treatment. A passerby was also slightly injured by debris from the blast.

The force of the explosion caused extensive damage to neighbouring properties, businesses and parked vehicles.

Video from a nearby hotel captured the moment of the explosion, with people inside the building running for safety as windows shattered from the force of the blast.

Cause of explosion remains under investigation

A gas leak is among the possibilities being investigated.

Some witnesses reported smelling gas before the explosion, while Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said early information indicated that gas may have been involved.

However, the cause has not been officially established.

Enaon EDA, the natural gas distribution network operator, said its teams went to the scene and were carrying out the required checks in cooperation with the authorities. The company said the cause of the incident remained under investigation.

There is also conflicting information about the building’s gas supply. An Airbnb co-owner said the property had neither natural gas nor propane cylinders, while authorities continue examining all possible causes.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas described the situation as extremely complex and said municipal services were also using drones and equipment to assess damage to neighbouring buildings.

The rescue operation remains ongoing as crews carefully work through the unstable ruins of the historic Plaka building.

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