Four Americans were among six people killed in a gas explosion that collapsed a building in Athens’ Plaka district near the Acropolis on September 26, 2026, according to U.S. and Greek officials.
A gas explosion collapsed a three-story building in Athens’ Plaka district on September 26, 2026, killing six people including four Americans, officials confirmed. The blast, which occurred near the Acropolis, also injured two others and left nearby structures in danger, according to Athens Mayor Haris Doukas.
Victims Identified and Their Lives Remembered
The four American victims included Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, 37, and his wife, Florida Hoxha, along with Hoxha’s brother Florin Hoxha and his wife Eris Cani, according to Newsday. Kirkpatrick, a former Huntington, New York, resident, was described by his mother, Suzanne Nelson, as a Renaissance man
who spoke Chinese, loved literature, and worked in regulatory compliance. Hoxha, a New York legal aid attorney, was praised for her dedication to immigrant communities. The couple had recently married and were en route to the U.S. when the explosion occurred.
The two non-American victims were British national Edmond Hings, 78, and his Greek wife Athena Papaprescou, 77, who owned the building, per Newsday. Greek authorities did not immediately give their identities, ages or where in the U.S. they came from, though the American family had been renting an apartment on the first floor, according to the Kathimerini newspaper.
Local Warnings Ignored, Building Safety Under Scrutiny
Residents in the Plaka neighborhood had previously warned local officials about gas leak risks and electrical hazards, according to a letter published by Kathimerini. A citizens’ group also reported that a resident had alerted authorities to a possible gas smell before the blast, the outlet said. The area, a popular tourist spot near the Acropolis, welcomed 4.6 million visitors last year, per CBS News.
Mayor Doukas stated that two adjacent buildings were left in “dangerous” condition after the explosion, with inspections underway to determine if they could be salvaged.
U.S. and Greek Officials Respond to Tragedy
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle stated, I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of four American citizens in yesterday’s explosion in central Athens,
per CBS News. She praised Greek first responders and noted the U.S. Embassy was aiding victims’ families. The State Department confirmed the deaths were caused by a gas explosion.
Local officials described the disaster as “incredible,” with rescue teams using mechanical diggers and thermal imaging to search for survivors, according to CBS News. Two tourists were treated for injuries from an adjacent building, the Hellenic Fire Department said.
Community Grief and Calls for Accountability
Westchester County Board Chairman Vedat Gashi described Florida Hoxha as a dedicated community servant
who would reach out and say, ‘How can I help?’
during a meeting where he requested a moment of silence for the victims. The American family’s Airbnb rental, located on Lysikratous Street, was among the structures damaged, per Newsday.
Residents of the Plaka district, which has a history of infrastructure concerns, now face questions about safety protocols. A local fire official told ABC News that the cause of the explosion was under investigation, with no immediate indication of foul play.