A powerful explosion brought down a building in the Plaka tourist area of central Athens, leaving at least two people dead and several foreign tourists missing. Rescue workers recovered the body of a young woman on Saturday, and later a man's body was also found in the rubble, according to Greek public broadcaster ERT. Three other people were injured, and nearby shops and cars sustained damage.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas described the scene as an "incredible disaster." "The damage extends along the entire street as well as the street behind the building," he said. Authorities suspect a gas leak caused the Friday blast, but the exact sequence of events remains unclear. "Something went terribly wrong," Doukas added.

Greek news agency ANA reported that the female victim was an American tourist who had been sharing a holiday rental with her husband and another couple. Local media indicated that the missing include a British national, a Greek woman who lived on the second floor, and four American tourists staying on the first floor. Their nationalities have not been officially confirmed. A police official said the group of tourists had been expected to check in for a flight from Athens early Friday afternoon.

Rescue teams are using sniffer dogs and thermal cameras to search for possible survivors. According to ANA, dozens of firefighters and six vehicles, including two specialized rescue vehicles, have been deployed. Excavators are also being used to clear the rubble. Plaka is close to many of Athens' most visited sites, including the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus.

The incident has raised concerns about safety standards in one of the Greek capital's busiest tourist districts. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing.

Source: www.dw.com