The search and rescue operation in the rubble of the building that collapsed following yesterday’s explosion on Lysikratous Street in Plaka has ended in the most painful way, as Fire Brigade forces and EMAK crews recovered all six missing people dead.

According to reports, those killed in the tragedy in the heart of Athens were Florinda Hoxha and her husband, Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, who had recently married, as well as Eris Cani and her husband, Florin Hoxha.

Four of the deceased had rented an apartment on the first floor of the building. Three of them were of Albanian origin and held American citizenship.

They were in Greece for their honeymoon

The case is made even more tragic by the fact that Florinda Hoxha and her husband, Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, were in Greece for their honeymoon, according to information revealed by a relative.

“The building that collapsed in Plaka approximately 13 hours ago is believed to have housed my cousins, Ian and Florida. They are in Greece for their honeymoon,” their relative wrote in a post on Reddit, seeking information after it emerged that passports bearing their names had been found in the rubble.

At the same time, reports indicate that the other couple who were with them, Eris Çani and Florin Hoxha, were expecting a child.

The other two victims of the tragedy were the elderly couple who lived on the second floor of the building.

They were Athina Papareskou and Edmond Hings, 77, of British origin, according to information available so far.

Investigations continue into the causes of the tragedy

Meanwhile, investigations into the exact causes of the deadly explosion are ongoing, with the possibility of a gas leak at the centre of the inquiry. However, experts are expected to examine all the evidence from the scene of the destruction in order to determine exactly what caused the tragic incident.

It is recalled that the explosion occurred shortly after 07:30 yesterday, Friday (25/9), causing extensive damage to adjacent buildings and parked vehicles.