A critical and unanswered question remains regarding what caused the explosion in Plaka, Athens, following the completion of a grim and difficult operation to recover six bodies from the rubble of a building on Lysikratous Street. The powerful blast leveled the two-story building, leaving six people dead. The Fire Department and EMAK rescue operation concluded after approximately 24 hours of searching through the debris.
From the earliest hours following the explosion, authorities have primarily focused on the scenario of gas accumulation in a closed space, leading to ignition and subsequent catastrophic destruction. Initial assessments and on-site autopsies have turned attention toward the building’s installations, though no official conclusion confirming the exact cause has been issued yet. According to information being examined by authorities, particular attention is being paid to the second floor, where the explosion is believed to have originated, while clues are being gathered from the debris to determine if there was a problem with a gas installation or another appliance.
Fire Department: “No complaint was made regarding gas odor”
One of the emerging questions is whether there was any prior indication of trouble, such as a gas odor in the area. The spokesperson for the Fire Department, Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, stated that no relevant complaint regarding a gas odor had been made to the Fire Department prior to the explosion. This remark leaves open the possibility that the leak—if ultimately confirmed as the cause—developed without any prior warning signal sent to the competent authorities.
The Fire Department has undertaken the investigation through its Investigative Department and the Arson Crimes Investigation Directorate (DAEE), while evidence is being collected from the debris at the scene. Vathrakogiannis pointed out that from the very first moment, a 10-member specialized team from the DAEE was present at the scene of the explosion and fire.
Although the gas scenario remains primary, authorities have not ruled out other possibilities until technical checks are completed. Under the microscope are:
- The condition of the building’s installations
- A potential leak from the utility network or internal installation
- The presence of gas cylinders or other fuel sources
- Any element that could point to the exact epicenter of the explosion
Furthermore, according to Mega, a year before the fatal explosion, members of the Plaka Residents Movement had addressed an official document to the competent authorities, warning of potential risks from short circuits or gas leaks. In their 2025 document, members of the movement stated: “We express our concern in the event that an emergency situation could occur, particularly the outbreak of a fire from a natural gas leak, a short circuit, or another cause”.
The Human Tragedy
Beyond the technical investigation, the tragedy in Plaka leaves a heavy human toll. Four people staying in the short-term rental apartment had come to Athens as visitors, while an elderly couple lived on the second floor. According to available information, those killed in the heart of Athens include Florida Hoxha and her recently married husband, Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, as well as Eris Tzani and her husband, Florin Hoxha. Four of the victims had rented an apartment on the first floor of the building, three of whom were of Albanian descent with American citizenship.
Honeymoon Trip to Greece, Another Couple Expecting a Child
Adding an even more tragic dimension, a relative revealed that Florida Hoxha and Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick were in Greece for their honeymoon. “The building that collapsed in Plaka about 13 hours ago is believed to have hosted my cousins, Ian and Florida. They are in Greece for their honeymoon,” a relative posted on Reddit while seeking information after passports with their names were found in the debris. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the other couple staying with them, Eris Tzani and Florin Hoxha, were expecting a child.
The other two victims of the tragedy are the elderly couple who lived on the second floor: Athina Papareskou and 77-year-old British national Edmond Hinges. The process of identifying the six victims is ongoing as their families have been called to provide genetic material for DNA comparison, coordinated with the Hellenic Police’s Forensics Directorate.
The explosion occurred shortly after 07:30 on Friday, September 25, causing extensive damage to neighboring buildings and parked vehicles. The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection announced that following the completion of rescue operations and the recovery of all missing persons, and by order of Minister Evangelos Tournas, firefighting forces and personnel from the 1st EMAK will remain at the site for as long as necessary to assist with ongoing operations. The head and team of the DAEE will also remain on-site to continue preliminary investigations into the causes and conditions of the incident.
