Disturbance has been caused in municipalities of the Southern Suburbs of Attica and specifically in the Municipalities of Nea Smyrni, Palaio Faliro, Agios Dimitrios, Kallithea, Glyfada, Alimos, due to the intense smell of gas that existed in the atmosphere and became particularly noticeable, mainly in the areas of the coastal front. All the mayors of the area rushed to inform and be informed and received from the competent authorities the assurance that no natural gas leak has occurred.
It is noted that both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Civil Protection are on alert and in continuous contact with the operators.
“No leak or other fault has been detected so far at the Revythousa facilities”
According to information from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the ESKEDIK has received several calls since 11:40 regarding the smell of LPG in areas of Attica. As emphasized, vehicles of the Fire Brigade were immediately deployed to carry out checks at the points from which the reports originated. At the same time, as underlined, in communication with DESFA, no leak or other fault has so far been detected at the Revythousa facilities or at any other point of the network. Respectively, ENAON EDA Attica reports that no related problem has been identified. Also, in communication with the Operations Center of the Coast Guard, during extensive checks carried out by gas transport ships, no related incident has been reported. From the side of the refineries (Helleniq – Motor Oil) it is noted that no problem has been identified at the facilities, nor is there a corresponding smell in Thriasio. The incident has been reported to the General Secretariat for the Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy together with the Department of Environmental Inspectors, as well as to the competent Directorate of Environment of the Region of Attica.
“The smell does not originate from a natural gas leak”
In its announcement, the Municipality of Nea Smyrni states: “An intense unpleasant smell has been observed during the last hour in the Southern Suburbs and specifically in the Municipalities of Nea Smyrni, Palaio Faliro, Agios Dimitrios, Kallithea, Glyfada, Alimos. According to the assurances of the competent authorities, the smell does not originate from a natural gas leak. The Municipality of Nea Smyrni has informed the state bodies (Civil Protection Directorates) in order to determine what exactly it is. From the PERPA service (Restriction of Pollution and Saving of Oil & Gas), however, assurance has been given to the Municipality that the smell is not the result of dangerous environmental pollution. The recommendation so far is to remain in spaces with closed windows.”
Due to the smell, disturbance was also caused in the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios, which initially began evacuating the Town Hall and was ready to do the same with the city’s schools purely for preventive reasons; however, the assurances also received by the municipal authority from the Fire Brigade and the other competent services stopped any initial decisions. “We were ready to evacuate schools, because the smell had started to become very intense, however the assurances came from the competent authorities that this is not a natural gas leak and therefore we could not proceed with such an action,” the mayor of Glyfada, Giorgos Papanikolaou, also stated to ANA-MPA, adding that he would remain awaiting further information. The municipal authority of Alimos is also in a waiting stance, as the mayor, Andreas Kondylis, told us: “From the moment the responsible authorities inform us that this is not something dangerous, we cannot take any action. We are on alert and awaiting any new information.”
