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New details have emerged following the powerful explosion and subsequent collapse of a building in Athens’ old quarter Plaka district, as rescue crews continue their intensive search of the rubble and concern grows over those still missing.

According to official information from the natural gas company, the second floor of the building, where an elderly couple believed to be missing had been staying, had a natural gas connection supplying the apartment’s kitchen and fireplace.

The information is now being examined by authorities investigating the cause of the explosion. So far, however, there is no indication that the natural gas connection was linked to the blast.

At the same time, authorities are examining the possibility that there may be a sixth missing person. According to the latest information, the US Embassy informed Greek authorities that four people — two men and two women aged approximately 30 to 40 — had been scheduled to fly out of Athens at 3 p.m. Friday. However, none of the four boarded the flight, and they have not been answering phone calls.

Authorities are therefore examining whether all four were together in the first-floor apartment at the time of the explosion. Earlier information had indicated that three people were staying at the Airbnb on the first floor, in addition to the elderly couple on the second floor, putting the number of missing people at five.

Shortly after 6 p.m., the handbag of one of the female tourists staying in the apartment was found in the rubble.

Andreas Martzakis, one of the managers of the Airbnb operating on the first floor, spoke about those who may have been inside the building when the explosion occurred and the structure collapsed.

“We had declared three people, one named Frederick. Did they get out? Did they not get out? We have no information after the explosion. I was there from the very first moment. The apartment was an Airbnb,” he said.

“We had three people on the first floor. On the second floor there were another two, an elderly couple. The fire brigade has not informed us whether it has found anything inside,” he added.

Martzakis said the first-floor apartment did not have a natural gas connection, propane cylinders or liquefied-gas bottles.

Rescuers are continuing to search the ruins using thermal imaging cameras and specially trained dogs. Earlier, they also located the handbag belonging to one of the tourists in the debris.