Explosion rocks Athens with three injured in building collapse
Por Mike Taylor — – World RSS Feed
Explosion rocks Athens with three injured in building collapse
Fire crews and ambulances rushed to the scene as smoke billowed above ancient monuments
Mike Taylor & James C. Reynolds Friday 25 September 2026 12:11 BST
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Three people have been injured after a residential building collapsed following a powerful explosion in the bustling historic centre of Athens on Friday, damaging surrounding homes, shops and vehicles.
The cause of the blast inside the two-storey property in the Plaka district — located close to famous landmarks such as the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus — is currently unknown. Debris and shattered glass were hurled up to three blocks away.
An elderly couple who lived on the second floor of the building were still unaccounted for and not responding to calls on Friday afternoon, according to local media.
Police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou informed public broadcaster ERT that fire service inspectors were still assessing the scene.
“It was like the whole building, the whole block blew off. That’s how strong it was,” said local resident Andreas Martzaklis.
Did you see what happened? Contact james.reynolds@independent.co.uk
open image in galleryEmergency responders and ambulances swarmed the area as smoke gathered over the ancient monuments. The structure itself was reduced to a wreckage of buckled metal, destroyed balconies and suspended concrete slabs.
Authorities said a passer-by was injured. Two women who had been trapped in an adjacent building were rescued and being treated in hospital.
The area is home to many hotels and short-term rentals and crowds of tourists stroll its narrow streets lined with cafes and souvenir shops.
A police source said at least five people lodged at the building, part of which was rented out to tourists. It was not immediately clear if others were trapped.
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