A powerful explosion tore through a building on Lykavittos Street in the Plaka neighborhood of central Athens early Frid...

A powerful explosion tore through a building on Lykavittos Street in the Plaka neighborhood of central Athens early Friday morning, and six people are still missing hours later. The blast hit just after 7:30 a.m. and was strong enough to cause widespread damage to neighboring buildings and nearby businesses. A man driving past at the time of the explosion was also lightly injured by flying debris. Rescuers from the fire service and the EMAK urban search and rescue unit have been working through the night. Thirty firefighters with six vehicles, including two specialized EMAK rescue units, are on site using thermal cameras, trained search dogs, and heavy machinery to clear rubble. The operation is expected to continue for as long as it takes. Authorities are searching for six people who are believed to have been inside the building. On the second floor, an elderly couple lived permanently, a 78-year-old woman and her husband, who reportedly has mobility problems. Police tried to reach them by phone but got no answer. The first floor was operating as a short-term rental. Four tourists were staying there, an American man, his wife, their son, and the son's partner. The four had a flight booked back to the United States at 3:00 p.m. that day, but they never boarded. Their phones have been switched off since the blast. A woman's handbag was found inside the rubble containing a rental agreement and personal identification documents, believed to belong to one of the tourists. Their scheduled checkout was 11:00 a.m., and it has not been confirmed whether they were still inside when the explosion occurred. Athens Mayor Haris Doukis said the explosion appears to be linked to a gas leak, noting the enormous force of the blast. Gas installations were reportedly located on the second floor of the building. An arson investigation unit led by Commander Dimitris Dimakogiannis is also on site to determine the exact cause. Two women were rescued from an adjacent building during the operation and taken to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital. #Athens #Plaka #BreakingNews