Briton and wife killed in Athens building collapse – reports

26 Sep 2026 • 8:29 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Briton and wife killed in Athens building collapse – reports

A British man and his Greek wife are believed to be among those killed in a building collapse near the Acropolis in Athens, according to local reports.

Emergency crews recovered six bodies following an explosion in the Plaka tourist district on Friday morning, Greek broadcaster ERT said.

The Briton and his partner were reportedly both in their 70s and living on the second floor of the building overlooking the Hadrian’s Gate monument.

Firefighters work at the scene on the street leading to Hadrian’s Gate in central Athens (Petros Giannakouris/AP) (AP)

American nationals who had been staying in a short-term rental on the first floor were also killed, ERT said.

Images show responders working around the building that had been reduced to rubble.

The blast is believed to have been caused by a massive gas leak, Athens mayor Haris Doukas said on Friday night.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are aware of a suspected explosion in Athens and are in touch with the local authorities.

“We stand ready to offer assistance to British nationals abroad 24/7.”

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