Plaka: tourist found dead under rubble, search continues for 5 missing

A woman was pulled dead from the rubble of the collapsed building at 15 Lysikratous Street in Plaka, Athens, overnight, after the powerful explosion at around 7:30 on Friday morning (September 25, 2026). Her body was found on the first floor of the destroyed building, while the search-and-rescue operation continues for the five other missing persons.

According to Greek media, the victim was a tourist staying in an apartment rented through Airbnb on the first floor, together with three other American tourists — two couples aged 30 to 40. The booking was made in the name “Ian,” 37. The tourists had a Delta flight at 3:30 p.m. that same day to return to the U.S., but they never showed up.

Five people remain missing: the three other American tourists and an elderly couple living on the second floor — a 78-year-old woman originally from Athens and a 77-year-old British man. Two women were rescued from the neighboring building and taken to “Georgios Gennimatas” hospital, while a passerby was lightly injured by rubble fragments.

Thirty firefighters with 6 vehicles are engaged at the scene, including 2 special EMAK vehicles, 3 search dogs, as well as acoustic geophones, cameras and drones. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the explosion was likely caused by a major gas leak, describing the destruction as “extreme.” Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas arrived at the scene before 8:00 p.m.

The co-owner of the Airbnb apartment, Andreas Martzakis, said three people were registered in that unit in the name “Frederick” and stressed that the apartment had no natural gas or LPG installation. Investigators suspect a natural gas leak — it is reported that the second floor had gas installations — while the arson crimes unit remains on the ground, as ProtoThema reports.