A powerful blast shook Athens’ historic Plaka district near the ancient Acropolis on Friday morning, causing a building to collapse and injuring at least two people, authorities said.

The explosion occurred in an old two-story building in Plaka, a historic neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis, Greece’s most visited ancient monument. The blast also damaged nearby buildings and sent debris across the surrounding street.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately confirmed. Local media reported that authorities suspected a gas leak, but officials had not established the cause as the rescue operation continued.

Firefighters rescued two women from a neighboring building after the blast. Police said both women were taken to a hospital for treatment. Local media and a nearby resident also reported that a passerby suffered minor injuries.

Rescue crews brought a sniffer dog to the scene and searched through the rubble for anyone who might still be trapped or missing. Police cordoned off the area as firefighters carefully worked through the debris several hours after the explosion.

Residents said people may have been inside the collapsed building when the blast occurred. Andreas Martzaklis, who lives nearby, said an elderly couple occupied an upstairs apartment, while another apartment had reportedly been used as a short-term rental.

Martzaklis said he heard the explosion while drinking his morning coffee and was unsure whether the elderly residents had been inside the building when it collapsed.

He also said the people rescued from the neighboring building were tourists. Authorities had not immediately confirmed how many people were inside the collapsed structure at the time of the explosion.

Images from the scene showed large amounts of rubble covering the street, while several parked cars appeared to have been damaged by falling debris.

The search and rescue operation remained underway as emergency crews continued examining the wreckage for possible survivors.

SOURCE: Associated Press (AP), Lefteris Pitarakis and Elena Becatoros, September 25, 2026.