One dead and five missing after explosion destroys building close to Acropolis in Athens

At least one person has died and five others remain missing after an explosion destroyed a building near the Acropolis in Athens, authorities said. The blast occurred in the Plaka district, a historic neighbourhood that lies close to major tourist attractions including the Acropolis. According to local media, the structure housed a vacation rental. Four American tourists, one British national and one Greek national are reported to be among those unaccounted for, although officials have not confirmed this information. Photographs from the scene show emergency workers combing through rubble, with investigators suspecting a gas leak as the cause of the explosion. The body of a woman was recovered on Saturday morning, and search operations continue. Authorities said the tourists were confirmed missing after they failed to appear for their scheduled flight at Athens airport, a detail reported by Reuters citing local police. The three‑storey building collapsed completely under the force of the blast, damaging adjacent structures and scattering debris across the street. Excavators and thermal‑imaging cameras have been deployed at the site to locate possible survivors. The explosion took place on a narrow road situated between two of the city’s most visited landmarks—the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. BBC News has contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment.