ATHENS — Two people died as a result of an explosion and fire in a fourth-floor apartment on Folegandrou Street in Kato Patissia on Monday. The fire brigade received a report of a fire at 5:33 on Monday morning.

The fire fighters responding to the call found one man dead on the pavement outside the apartment building, while the neighbours had evacuated the building and reported hearing a powerful explosion.

While putting out the fire, a second dead body was found, completely charred, so that its sex could not be identified. There were also signs of an explosion within the apartment, raising the possibility that the dead man was blown out of it.

An investigation by the fire brigade identified the victims as 35-year-old man and his grandmother, aged 80. The explosion was caused by a leaky gas canister.