• A blast in Athens' tourist area resulted in a building collapse.
• At least three individuals were reported injured, with rescue operations ongoing.
• The explosion was likely due to a gas leak, with significant damage reported.

An explosion in the tourist district of Plaka, Athens, led to a two-storey building partially collapsing on Friday. The blast reportedly injured at least three individuals, including a passerby, and caused debris to scatter across the neighborhood and damage surrounding properties, including shops and parked cars. Local resident Andreas Martzaklis described the explosion as powerful, stating, "It was like the whole building, the whole block blew off" according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The incident, which occurred near major historical sites like the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, is being investigated for a potential gas leak as the cause of the explosion. Fire crews and ambulances arrived swiftly to the scene, where they rescued two women from an adjacent building and transported them to the hospital for treatment. Local police had cordoned off the area as rescue operations continued, with sniffer dogs deployed to search for anyone who may be trapped under the rubble, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

As rescue efforts progressed, it was reported that residents in the collapsed building were potentially affected, including an elderly couple who lived there. The noise of the explosion was described as audible throughout the city center, and emergency services are working to assess the full extent of the damage while investigating the cause of the blast, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.