At least two dead after explosion destroys building close to Acropolis in Athens

At slightest 2 radical person died and 4 much are missing aft an detonation destroyed a gathering lodging a vacation rental spot successful the historical centre of Athens.

The blast happened successful the Plaka country of the Greek capital, a neighbourhood adjacent to tourer sites specified arsenic the Acropolis, with section media reporting the gathering housed a vacation rental.

An American antheral and pistillate person died, with 2 much US tourists missing, AFP quality bureau reported citing section officials. A Greek nationalist and UK nationalist who lived successful the gathering are besides said to beryllium missing.

Pictures from the country showed exigency work workers searching done rubble, with a state leak the suspected origin of the blast.

The assemblage of a pistillate was recovered connected Saturday morning, with a Greek occurrence authoritative aboriginal telling reporters the assemblage of a antheral had besides been found.

The tourists were confirmed to beryllium missing erstwhile they did not get for their formation astatine Athens airport, Reuters quality bureau reported citing section police.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said: "We are talking astir an unthinkable disaster."

The three-storey gathering wholly collapsed owed to the unit of the blast, with neighbouring buildings damaged and debris scattered crossed the road.

Local media reported radical were injured by worldly scattered crossed adjacent streets and immoderate buildings needed to beryllium evacuated.

Excavators and thermal imaging cameras person been utilized astatine the country to hunt for survivors.

The detonation happened connected a tiny roadworthy situated betwixt 2 of Athens' astir visited sites - the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

BBC News has contacted the UK Foreign Office.