SIX DEAD IN ATHENS BUILDING COLLAPSE

ATHENS, SEPTEMBER 26 /SRNA/ - Six people, including four American tourists, were killed when an explosion brought down a small residential building in Athens near the Acropolis, Greek officials said.

"The explosion, which occurred yesterday morning, was most likely caused by a gas leak," Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said.

The other two victims were an elderly British man and his Greek wife, who lived on the second floor of the three-story building, Greek state broadcaster ERT reported.

The American family of four had rented an apartment on the first floor and was preparing to leave for the airport a few hours later on Friday for their return to the United States, the newspaper Kathimerini reported.