A powerful explosion rocked Athens’ tourist district of Plaka near the ancient Acropolis on Friday morning, collapsing a building and injuring at least two people who were rescued from a neighboring structure, authorities said.
According to Greece’s fire department, the blast occurred inside an aging two-story building in Plaka, the historic quarter at the base of the Acropolis, the country’s most visited ancient landmark.
The structure was destroyed in the explosion, and nearby buildings sustained damage as well.
Firefighters pulled two women from an adjacent building. Police said both were taken to a hospital for treatment.
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A passer-by suffered minor injuries in the blast, according to local media reports.
Police sealed off the area as emergency crews searched the site for anyone else who might be trapped beneath the rubble.
Video from the scene showed debris scattered across the roadway, with falling masonry leaving parked cars badly damaged.
The cause remained unknown, although local media reported that investigators suspected a gas leak.