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Explosion Damages Offices, Stores in Athens; 3 Hurt

Greece Explosion Firefighters use aerial ladders to look for anyone possibly trapped inside damaged buildings following an explosion in central Athens, about 200 meters far from the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus . (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos) (Derek Gatopoulos)
Greece Explosion Firefighters use aerial ladders to look for anyone possibly trapped inside damaged buildings following an explosion in central Athens, about 200 meters far from the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus . (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos) (Derek Gatopoulos)
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Explosion Damages Offices, Stores in Athens; 3 Hurt

Greece Explosion Firefighters use aerial ladders to look for anyone possibly trapped inside damaged buildings following an explosion in central Athens, about 200 meters far from the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus . (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos) (Derek Gatopoulos)
Greece Explosion Firefighters use aerial ladders to look for anyone possibly trapped inside damaged buildings following an explosion in central Athens, about 200 meters far from the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus . (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos) (Derek Gatopoulos)

An explosion left three people injured and seriously damaged an office building while shattering nearby storefronts in a busy part of central Athens early Wednesday.

Fire department officials said a 77-year-old man was hospitalized with burns. Two others received medical attention for smoke inhalation, The Associated Press reported.

The pre-dawn blast occurred 200 meters from the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus on the busy Syngrou Avenue.

Firefighters were using aerial ladders to look for anyone possibly trapped inside the damaged buildings. As dawn broke, they forced their way into damaged stores to free several people trapped inside.

The cause of the blast wasn't immediately clear.

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Austria to Purchase 12 Italian Fighter Jets

Austrian Chancellor and head of People's Party (OeVP) Karl Nehammer looks on as he is on his way to coalition talks with the head of Social Democrats (SPOe) Andreas Babler and head of NEOS party Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Vienna, Austria, December 20, 2024. (Reuters)
Austrian Chancellor and head of People's Party (OeVP) Karl Nehammer looks on as he is on his way to coalition talks with the head of Social Democrats (SPOe) Andreas Babler and head of NEOS party Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Vienna, Austria, December 20, 2024. (Reuters)
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Austria to Purchase 12 Italian Fighter Jets

Austrian Chancellor and head of People's Party (OeVP) Karl Nehammer looks on as he is on his way to coalition talks with the head of Social Democrats (SPOe) Andreas Babler and head of NEOS party Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Vienna, Austria, December 20, 2024. (Reuters)
Austrian Chancellor and head of People's Party (OeVP) Karl Nehammer looks on as he is on his way to coalition talks with the head of Social Democrats (SPOe) Andreas Babler and head of NEOS party Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Vienna, Austria, December 20, 2024. (Reuters)

Austria plans to buy 12 Italian-made M-346 FA fighter jets to replace Saab 105 planes which it decommissioned at the end of 2020, the government said on Saturday.

Citing military sources, newspaper Krone said a letter of intent was due to be signed on Saturday with the Italian Defense Ministry for the planes made by Italy's Leonardo.

The contract is currently being negotiated with the Italian government, the Austrian Defense Ministry said, confirming the planned purchase of the aircraft.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the deal showed the strength of cooperation between Italy and Austria.

"My special thanks go to (Italian) Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who made a significant contribution to the conclusion of this agreement," Nehammer said in a statement.

The total cost of the purchase has yet to be determined, but about 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion) has been budgeted for it, the newspaper said.

The jets will be used for pilot training, support for ground forces and air defense, the government said.