ATHENS — Six people, including four American tourists, were killed when a blast believed to be from a major gas leak collapsed a two-storey building in Athens’ historic Plaka district, Greek authorities and wire reports said.
Documents indicated four of the dead — two men and two women — were U.S. citizens; the other two were an elderly British man and a Greek woman who lived on the building’s second floor, state broadcaster ERT and local media reported. Two women were injured in an adjoining building. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas called the damage an “unimaginable catastrophe,” saying neighbouring structures might have to be demolished.
Residents had warned the municipality and utility managers about gas and electrical risks in the area, and a police spokeswoman confirmed a smell-of-gas report on the street. Plaka sits at the foot of the Acropolis, Greece’s most visited ancient site.
Sources: Al Jazeera / AFP / AP
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