Athens explosion: Residential area rocked by blast with three injured by collapsed building

Three people have been injured after a residential building collapsed following a powerful explosion in the bustling historic centre of Athens on Friday, damaging surrounding homes, shops and vehicles.

The cause of the blast inside the two-storey property in the Plaka district — located close to famous landmarks such as the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus — is currently unknown. Debris and shattered glass were hurled up to three blocks away.

Police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou informed public broadcaster ERT that fire service inspectors were still assessing the scene.

Emergency responders and ambulances swarmed the area as smoke gathered over the ancient monuments. The structure itself was reduced to a wreckage of buckled metal, destroyed balconies and suspended concrete slabs.

“It was like the whole building, the whole block blew off. That’s how strong it was,” said local resident Andreas Martzaklis.

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