Four U.S. citizens were among six people who died in Athens, Greece, after a two-story building collapsed following an explosion, U.S. government sources confirmed.
The incident occurred Friday morning in the tourist district of Plaka, near the Acropolis. The explosion sent debris across the surrounding area.
The U.S. State Department said Saturday that the four American citizens died as a result of a gas explosion.
Greek firefighters recovered the bodies of the six people reported missing after the collapse, according to a spokesperson for the Greek Fire Service. The identities of the victims had not been released.
U.S. Embassy confirms American victims
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle confirmed the deaths of the four Americans in a statement posted Saturday on X and expressed support for their families.
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“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who died and were injured in this terrible incident,” Guilfoyle said, while thanking Greek emergency responders who worked at the scene.
According to information provided by Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and the fire department, two people inside a nearby building were also injured during the collapse.
