Five people were missing on Friday after an explosion caused a residential building to partially collapse in Plaka, a historic and heavily visited area of central Athens, Greece. Three people were injured, while nearby homes, shops and vehicles were also damaged.

The blast occurred in a two-storey building close to several of Athens’ major tourist attractions, including the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Authorities had not immediately determined what caused the explosion.

The building was left severely damaged, with twisted metal, shattered balconies and large sections of concrete hanging from the structure. The force of the blast also sent rocks and broken glass as far as three blocks from the site.

Firefighters were searching for five missing people, including an elderly couple who lived in the building, according to an official who spoke to Reuters. A police official said part of the building had also been rented to tourists.

Plaka is one of central Athens’ busiest tourist districts, with hotels, short-term rental properties, cafes and souvenir shops lining its narrow streets. Emergency crews and ambulances rushed to the area after the explosion as smoke rose near the city’s ancient monuments.

A passer-by was among those injured, authorities said. Two women who became trapped inside an adjacent building were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.

Local resident Andreas Martzaklis described the explosion as extremely powerful, saying it felt as though the entire building and surrounding block had been blown apart.

Search and rescue operations continued as authorities worked to locate the missing people and determine the cause of the blast.

SOURCE: Reuters, September 25, 2026.