Six dead in Athens Plaka building collapse, including American honeymooners and local seniors
Six people were killed when a two-story building on Lysikratous Street in Plaka collapsed after an explosion, among them four American tourists and two elderly residents.
Rescue crews finished searching the collapsed building in Plaka on Saturday, confirming six fatalities. The blast on Friday morning caused the two-story block on Lysikratous Street to collapse, trapping occupants on the first and second floors. The four American victims were staying in a short-term rental on the ground level: siblings Florida Hoxha and Florin Hoxha, Florida's husband Ian Kirkpatrick, and Florin's partner Erisa Cani, who was about three months pregnant.
The couple had planned to leave Greece that afternoon on a 3:30 p.m. flight. On the second floor, 78-year-old Athina Papareskou and 77-year-old Edmond Hings, a British citizen, were also killed. Their apartment was directly above the rental unit. The last two bodies were retrieved on Saturday, ending the search operation.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights safety concerns for tourists and residents in historic Athens neighborhoods.
How this story developed
- Sep 25 Explosion in Athens' Plaka district topples building and injures several people
- Sep 25 Officials have suggested a gas leak may have triggered the blast.
- Sep 26 All six victims were identified, confirming the death toll at six.
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