The victims included New York newlyweds, the bride’s brother and his pregnant wife, who were visiting Greece together.
ATHENS, Greece — Four Americans killed when a powerful explosion brought down a residential building in Athens’ historic Plaka district have been identified as two siblings and their spouses, including newlyweds who were nearing the end of their honeymoon.
Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, 37, and his wife, Florida Hoxha, 34, died alongside Hoxha’s brother, Florin Hoxha, 36, and his wife, Eris Cani, in the Sept. 25 disaster. Cani was about five months pregnant with the couple’s first child, according to U.S. news reports. The four Americans were among six people killed after the blast caused much of the building on Lysikratous Street to collapse. Greek authorities continued investigating the cause, with a gas leak among the leading possibilities.
The explosion struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. in Plaka, the heavily visited neighborhood beneath the Acropolis. Greek emergency crews rushed to the scene as debris covered the street and parts of the building fell into surrounding areas. Firefighters and specialized rescue teams searched the ruins with dogs, cameras and other equipment while authorities secured nearby structures damaged by the blast.
Kirkpatrick and Florida Hoxha had married Aug. 30 on Long Island, less than a month before the explosion. The couple traveled after their wedding and had been spending several days in Greece as part of their honeymoon. Reports said they were scheduled to return to the United States on the day of the collapse and had already made preparations for their flight home.
Florida Hoxha grew up in the Bronx and worked as a senior attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group, where her work included representing immigrants facing housing problems. Westchester County Legislator Vedat Gashi, who knew Hoxha, told ABC7 New York that she cared deeply about helping others and had been active in her community. The Westchester County Board of Legislators observed a moment of silence for those killed.
Florin Hoxha had traveled with his sister and brother-in-law and was staying in the same building with Cani. Reports identified him as a New York-area real estate professional and construction company co-founder. Cani was an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Touro College and had a professional background in pharmacy and infectious disease. Family members told news organizations that she was about five and a half months pregnant.
The two other people killed were an older couple who lived in the building, according to Greek and international reports. Authorities initially listed six people as missing as crews worked through unstable piles of debris. Bodies were recovered during an extensive operation that continued into the following days. The U.S. State Department later confirmed that four American citizens were among the dead and said consular assistance was being provided to their families.
The blast also damaged nearby properties, vehicles and businesses. Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that two women were rescued from an adjacent building with minor injuries and that another person was hurt by debris. At least several nearby homes were considered unsafe after the explosion, leaving officials to assess structural damage while investigators examined the ruins.
Early reports from residents described a smell of gas before the explosion, but authorities have not announced a final determination of what caused the blast. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said a significant gas leak was considered a possible cause. Greek investigators specializing in fire and explosion cases continued examining the site and collecting evidence. Officials have cautioned that the precise source and sequence of the explosion still must be established.
The disaster occurred in one of central Athens’ oldest and most recognizable neighborhoods, where narrow streets, historic buildings and short-term tourist rentals sit close to major landmarks. The force of the explosion caused extensive damage beyond the building itself, complicating rescue and investigative work and requiring crews to stabilize sections of the ruins before entering some areas.
Relatives of the American victims traveled to Greece as authorities worked through identification and arrangements for returning their remains to the United States. The deaths have prompted tributes in New York to the four family members, while investigators in Athens continue working to establish whether a gas leak or another factor caused the deadly explosion.
Author note: Last updated October 4, 2026.