Honeymooners among 4 Americans killed in Greece building collapse

A newlywed couple, the bride's brother and his pregnant wife have been identified as the four Americans killed in a building collapse in Athens, Greece.

Alexander Kirkpatrick, 37, Florida Hoxha, 34, Florin Hoxha, 36, and Eris Cani were killed Sept. 25 when a two-story building collapsed in Athens' historic Plaka district.


The four Americans were among the six killed in the blast, believed to have been caused by a major gas leak, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said.

Kirkpatrick and Florida Hoxha had married on Long Island the month before the blast and were ending their honeymoon in Athens, according to Newsday.

Florin Hoxha was the brother of the bride. Florin Hohxa accompanied the couple alongside his longtime partner, Cani, who was five months pregnant with their first child, according to media reports.

Video from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street and parked cars crushed by falling debris.

Neighboring buildings were damaged and evacuated.

Two women were injured in an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street, the fire department said. The search-and-rescue operation involved 30 firefighters and three dogs, and an investigation into the explosion was underway.

Plaka lies at the foot of the Acropolis, Greece's most visited ancient monument.

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