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The last two people missing after Friday’s explosion in Plaka were found dead on Saturday, bringing the death toll to six.

The victims were four American tourists staying in a short-term rental apartment on the first floor and an elderly couple who lived on the second.

The Americans — two men and two women — were a father, his 66-year-old wife, their son and his 36-year-old partner, according to the available information so far. They had been due to leave Athens on Friday but never arrived at the airport for their flight.

The couple upstairs were a 78-year-old Greek-British man and a 77-year-old woman.

The explosion struck Friday morning on Lysikratous Street in Plaka, Athens’ historic center, destroying much of the two-story building and damaging several neighboring properties.

Thirty firefighters took part in the search, along with specialized rescue teams from Greece’s 1st EMAK disaster-response unit and three search dogs. Heavy machinery supplied by the City of Athens was also used to clear debris.

Investigators Examine Gas Installations

Paris Charlavtis, a deputy mayor of Athens, told ERT that the building had two separate gas boilers, one serving each floor.

Residents had reported smelling what they believed to be natural gas before the blast. Initial inspections, however, found no leak in the gas installations.

Fire Service investigators remain at the site as they work to establish what caused the explosion.

Damage Extends to Nearby Buildings

The blast also caused extensive damage to surrounding properties and parked vehicles.

A preliminary inspection by city planning and building-control officials found serious damage in three or four buildings, including the one where the explosion occurred, Charlavtis said.

The destroyed building is being demolished, while engineers continue assessing nearby structures.

Part of the second floor of one adjoining building has broken away. In another, the wall separating it from the destroyed property was damaged, while a building across the street also sustained serious damage.

Farther from the site, the damage was less severe but still widespread, including shattered windows and sections of building facades dislodged by the force of the explosion.

A fuller assessment of the surrounding properties is expected once officials can safely access all of the affected buildings.