Building collapses after explosion in central Athens

A powerful explosion occurred around 07:35 on September 25, 2026, at an old two-story building located at the intersection of Lysikratous and Vassilissis Amalias streets in the Plaka district of Athens. The blast caused the building to collapse completely and sparked a fire, resulting in significant damage to neighboring properties and parked vehicles. Preliminary reports from authorities and Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis suggest the incident was likely caused by a natural gas leak rather than criminal activity.

Emergency services, including 24 firefighters and specialized units from the 1st EMAK, arrived at the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. At least three people sustained minor injuries, including two women rescued from an adjacent building and one passerby. Authorities are currently searching for other potential occupants, as records indicate an elderly couple lived on the second floor and a short-term rental unit on the first floor had bookings for three foreign tourists. The area remains cordoned off as the Fire Service's arson investigation unit continues to inspect the site and structural stability of surrounding buildings.