4 American tourists dead after building explosion and collapse in Athens

Updated on: September 26, 2026 / 9:53 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

Four Americans were among the six people who died after an explosion and building collapse in Athens' tourist district of Plaka near the Acropolis on Friday, officials said.

The blast, which occurred at dawn on Friday, was likely caused by a gas leak, according to Athens Mayor Haris Doukas.

The two other people killed were an elderly British man and his Greek wife who lived on the second floor of the three-story building, Greece's state broadcaster ERT reported.

The American family of four had been renting an apartment on the first floor and were preparing to go to the airport hours later Friday for their return to the United States when the blast occurred, according to the Kathimerini newspaper.

The explosion brought down the residential building and damaged properties and vehicles along the street. Two other women were injured from an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, fire brigades said, according to the Associated Press.

The New York Times reported that the U.S. family was composed of a couple, their son and his girlfriend. Greek authorities did not immediately give their identities, ages or where in the U.S. they came…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/