British national among six dead in building explosion close to Acropolis in Athens

Fonte da imagem, ReutersLegenda da imagem, O edifício no distrito de Plaka foi reduzido a escombros recheados com itens domésticos.

• Published26 September 2026, 10:33 BST.

Six people have died, including a British national, in an explosion that destroyed a building containing a holiday rental property in the historic centre of Athens.

A explosão na sexta‑feira aconteceu na área de Plaka, na capital grega, um bairro próximo a pontos turísticos como a Acrópole.

Four American holidaymakers were among the dead, along with a UK national and Greek national - reportedly an elderly couple who lived in the same building.

Fotos da cena no sábado mostraram trabalhadores dos serviços de emergência vasculhando os escombros, com um vazamento de gás sendo a causa suspeita da explosão.

All six bodies had been recovered by Saturday afternoon. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said: "We are talking about an incredible disaster.

The tourists were confirmed to be missing when they did not arrive for their flight at Athens airport later on Friday, news agency Reuters reported citing local police.

The three-storey building completely collapsed due to the force of the blast, with neighbouring buildings damaged and debris scattered across the road.

Fonte da imagem, Reuters. Legenda da imagem, Investigadores no local acreditam que a explosão foi causada por vazamento de gás.

Local media reported people were injured by material scattered across nearby streets and some buildings needed to be evacuated.

Excavators and thermal imaging cameras have been used at the scene to search for survivors.

The explosion happened on a small road situated between two of Athens' most visited sites - the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Um porta-voz do Ministério das Relações Exteriores do Reino Unido disse: 'Estamos cientes de uma suposta explosão em Atenas e estamos em contato com as autoridades locais.

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