Four Americans Identified Among Victims of Greece Building Collapse

Four Americans who died in a devastating building collapse in Greece have finally been identified by authorities. The tragic incident leveled an Airbnb in the Plaka neighborhood early Friday morning, claiming six lives total. Among the victims were Klajd Hoxha's brother and sister, along with their partners.

Klajd, 31, described waking up on that fateful Friday as if nothing was wrong. His older brother, Florin, 36, had been vacationing with his longtime girlfriend Eris Cani, 39. She was five months pregnant with their first child. Klajd's sister, Florida, 34, was just 25 days into her marriage to Ian Kirkpatrick, 37. The couple had recently returned from a short honeymoon in Mexico.

The explosion occurred around 7:30 am. By the afternoon, all four family members were checked in for their return flight at approximately 3 pm. When Klajd called Delta Airlines later that day, he learned they never boarded. His parents and Eris's parents received the heartbreaking news from the US Embassy in Greece shortly after.

'I immediately got in the car... I was reading, just trying to, kind deal with the despair, the pain, the anxiety,' Klajd told reporters. He flew out that night with his fiancée Cindy, carrying a sliver of hope that survivors might be found under rubble. 'I remained hopeful that, you know, people have survived tsunamis, earthquakes, bigger things... but it was a lot of fear and a lot of sadness,' he admitted.

The emotional toll hit the family hard as they prepared to land in Greece. Cindy told Klajd she needed to tell him the truth about two confirmed deaths beneath the structure. Klajd spent ten minutes in the bathroom screaming internally at God, unable to process the reality that his siblings and their partners were gone. 'I went to the bathroom for ten minutes... I just said, regretfully, I hate you, God. I can't believe you're doing this to me,' he recalled.

When they finally met with embassy officials, the confirmation came: most likely, all four Americans perished in the blast. Klajd described the moment as a brutal shift from movie logic to raw life-and-death reality. 'We kind of understood, you know, this is real. It's not a movie. It's not a nightmare or anything... It's real life,' he said.

The family gathered around each other in pure devastation. Tears flowed freely while they screamed silently at the loss of half their immediate family. Klajd lost two siblings and two siblings-in-law instantly. The shock hit them all deeply as they faced the unimaginable pain of watching a building collapse destroy lives that were meant to be celebrated, not mourned.

It is more than half of my family now gone,' Klajd stated with a heavy heart, admitting that his passion for Greek tragedy films felt deeply ironic standing amidst this sorrow. The four victims had traveled together as part of Florin and Eris's nearly annual vacation routine, with Klajd invited to join only because he was engaged to Eris at the time. He expressed the crushing weight of what could have been, noting that from his parents' perspective, imagining life without them is impossible. His older brother was set to welcome a new daughter in just a few months, a future niece who will never be born. Florin and Eris had chosen not to hold a traditional wedding but were celebrating their love with a mini-moon in Mexico after marrying less than a month ago when Eris was already five months pregnant.

Local authorities are still investigating the devastating explosion that struck Athens last week, which investigators believe was sparked by a gas leak on the building's second floor. Reports suggest residents smelled the dangerous gas for months or perhaps even a year before tragedy finally struck. Eris, described as a gentle soul and an Assistant Professor at Touro College of Pharmacy specializing in clinical infectious diseases, lost her life along with three others who had been in constant contact throughout the week. Both sets of parents spoke to their children every single day right up until the moment everything changed.

US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle announced on Saturday that she was deeply saddened by the news of these American tourists killed in Athens over the weekend. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by this horrific incident, she wrote, extending her deepest appreciation to the Greek first responders who worked tirelessly at the scene. The US Embassy is currently providing consular assistance and support to help victims' families navigate this nightmare. Guilfoyle spoke personally with Klajd and his family after he praised the embassy for being unbelievable, so helpful, so caring, and so human during such a difficult time.

All four bodies have been recovered under unclear conditions while Klajd remains in Athens waiting for clearance to bring them home. The fire chief himself has admitted there are no answers right now, but investigators are combing through all the debris and rubble to understand exactly what happened. We've read that there were reports of a gas smell lingering for months or longer before this unthinkable event occurred. Klajd said Florin had co-founded Prufrock Builders with him in Westchester, adding another layer of loss to an already shattered community. The search for answers continues as grief sweeps through the families left behind.

We are trying hard to make sure this never happens again," he stated. The urgency is palpable as news breaks late Friday morning. A 78-year-old man and his wife, a 77-year-old woman, lived on the second floor of that apartment building. They were spotted standing on their balcony just minutes before the blast struck with terrifying force. The couple was later identified by The National Herald as British national Edmond Hinks and his Greek wife, Athena Papareskou. They shared an eleven-year marriage inside an apartment boasting a view of the Acropolis. Their home is now at the center of the investigation because authorities believe the explosion originated from their second floor. That specific level was the only one with an active natural gas supply, according to reports from The Herald.

TV footage captured a convoy of yellow ambulances crammed tightly into a narrow street on Friday morning. One by one, rescue workers emerged from the ruins carrying stretchers. Each stretcher bore a body covered in silver foil while onlookers watched in heavy silence. Around 30 firefighters and six vehicles combed through piles of rubble made of concrete slabs. The team included elite units from Greece's EMAK disaster squad. Just hours after the explosion ripped through that street, rescuers pulled two women from a neighboring building who were then taken to the hospital by ambulance.

The tragedy extends beyond this single location as families mourn their lost loved ones. Klajd spoke about his older brother Florin calling him his 'best friend' who taught him everything. "He was just what you perfectly picture as an older brother; who yells at you but loves you the very next minute," he said with emotion. Florin had co-founded a Westchester-based construction company called Prufrock Builders alongside Klajd, his brother told the Daily Mail. Eris, a clinical infectious diseases pharmacist and Assistant Professor at Touro College of Pharmacy, was described as a 'gentle, gentle soul.' "She loved not just our family, but everybody," Klajd added softly.

He went on to describe his sister Florida as 'one of the brightest stars of a human being I've ever met.' She served as a senior attorney at NILAG, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people of unfortunate means. "She dedicated herself to helping people," he said firmly. As part of their Albanian-American family, Florida worked tirelessly to help the Albanian community and served as president of Albanian Professional Entrepreneurs Networking. Her husband, Ian, was an 'outstanding, funny, charismatic, intelligent' and 'wonderful' person who worked as Vice President for the Japanese company Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. "She brought a lot of people together," Klajd said.

Regulators must act fast now to prevent such disasters from striking other communities. Government directives regarding natural gas lines need immediate attention to protect public safety. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before fixing these dangerous flaws in our infrastructure. The risk to neighborhoods remains high if officials do not address the supply issues immediately. Lives hang in the balance right now as we await new rules that might save others from this fate.

A voice from the community speaks out with raw emotion about a life cut short far too soon. She helped countless people and was simply an incredible human being, caregiver, and listener for anyone who needed them most. Her family says she would put her own feelings aside just to help others, yet she deserved more in her life regarding years lived on earth.

Her husband, Ian, is described as outstanding, funny, charismatic, intelligent, and wonderful. He worked as the Vice President of the Japanese company Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Being Albanian by descent, he learned the language so he could speak to his grandmother and relatives outside the United States. He had done this very well despite Albanian being a very difficult language to learn. Klajd noted that he undertook the task because it was just a form of respect for the person he loved deeply.

Klajd, who remains in Athens, confirmed that all four bodies of their loved ones have been recovered under unclear conditions right now. The family is just waiting on clearance to bring them home safely. They were made aware from the US ambassador that Greek authorities and the fire department are taking this with the utmost seriousness. Not because they are angry since grief is anger in many forms, but more so they are not blaming anybody at this stage.

They simply want a little bit of peace as to what has happened exactly. It is devastating and truly heartbreaking for everyone involved. The situation demands immediate attention from officials who regulate safety across borders. Regulations or government directives must be reviewed urgently if such accidents occur again without proper safeguards in place. Communities face real risks when international travel meets unprepared local infrastructure. This tragedy hits hard because no family should lose four members in unclear circumstances while waiting for answers.