Greece: Two found unconscious as rescuers search rubble after Athens blast

Emergency personnel carry out rescue operations after an old building partially collapsed following an explosion in the Plaka area of central Athens. Pic/AFP

Rescuers combing through the rubble of a building that collapsed in a blast in the Greek capital's tourist district of Plaka, near the ancient Acropolis, recovered two unconscious people and searched for four others, authorities said Saturday.

The blast on Friday morning was believed to have been caused by a massive gas leak, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said on Friday night. He said that neighbouring buildings were also damaged and were evacuated.

The fire department said that a second person was found unconscious in the rubble of the two-storey house in Plaka, the historic part of Athens that lies at the foot of the Acropolis hill, Greece's most visited ancient monument.

Earlier Saturday, an unconscious woman was taken away by an ambulance. Two other women were injured from an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, fire brigades said.

The search and rescue involved 30 firefighters and three dogs. An investigation into the blast was underway.

Video footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by falling debris. The people rescued by the fire department from the adjacent building were all tourists, resident Andreas Martzaklis said.

The pastor of a nearby church said that this Sunday's service would be held outdoors because of damage to the church.

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