At least two dead in Athens blast near Acropolis

September 26, 2026 at 02:33 PM2 min

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An explosion destroyed a building in Athens' Plaka district near the Acropolis, killing at least two people. Four others are missing, including two US tourists and a Greek and UK national. A gas leak is the suspected cause.

Key Facts

At least two people died and four are missing after an explosion destroyed a building in Athens' Plaka district.
The dead were identified as an American man and woman, while two more US tourists, a Greek national, and a UK national are missing.
The three-storey building completely collapsed, damaging neighbouring buildings and scattering debris across the road.
A gas leak is the suspected cause of the blast, according to local media.
The explosion occurred on a small road between the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Casualties and Missing

At least two people have died and four more are missing after an explosion destroyed a building housing a holiday rental property in the historic centre of Athens. An American man and woman have died, with two more US tourists missing, AFP news agency reported citing local officials. A Greek national and UK national who lived in the building are also said to be missing. The body of a woman was found on Saturday morning, with a Greek fire official later telling reporters the body of a man had also been found. The tourists were confirmed to be missing when they did not arrive for their flight at Athens airport, Reuters news agency reported citing local police.

Scene and Response

The three-storey building completely collapsed due to the force of the blast, with neighbouring buildings damaged and debris scattered across the road. Local media reported people were injured by material scattered across nearby streets and some buildings needed to be evacuated. Excavators and thermal imaging cameras have been used at the scene to search for survivors. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said: "We are talking about an incredible disaster."

Location and Cause

The explosion happened on a small road situated between two of Athens' most visited sites - the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. A gas leak is the suspected cause of the blast. BBC News has contacted the UK Foreign Office.