Six people have died, including a British national, in an explosion that destroyed a building housing a holiday rental property in the historic centre of Athens.

The blast on Friday happened in the Plaka area of the Greek capital, a neighbourhood close to tourist sites such as the Acropolis.

Four American holidaymakers were among the dead, along with a UK national and Greek national – reportedly an elderly couple who lived in the same building.

Pictures from the scene on Saturday showed emergency service workers searching through rubble, with a gas leak the suspected cause of the blast.

All six bodies had been recovered by Saturday afternoon. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said: “We are talking about an incredible disaster.”

The tourists were confirmed to be missing when they did not arrive for their flight at Athens airport later on Friday, Reuters news agency reported citing local police.

The three-storey building completely collapsed due to the force of the blast, with neighbouring buildings damaged and debris scattered across the road.

Local media reported people were injured by material scattered across nearby streets and some buildings needed to be evacuated.

Excavators and thermal imaging cameras have been used at the scene to search for survivors.

The explosion happened on a small road situated between two of Athens’ most visited sites – the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of a suspected explosion in Athens and are in touch with the local authorities.”