An intense and unpleasant gas odor covered a large part of the southern suburbs and coastal front of Attica on Tuesday (19/05) for approximately two hours, from Saronida and Voula to Paleo Faliro, Piraeus and Kallithea, causing concern among residents and hundreds of calls to authorities.
No natural gas leak detected despite strong odor
According to reports, a Greek natural gas distribution company received more than 350 calls from areas including Voula, Vouliagmeni, Vari, Glyfada, Ilioupoli and Nea Smyrni.
Twenty-eight technical teams were immediately mobilized, while high-tech specialized vehicles were also used to detect possible leaks. The extensive checks were completed at 22:30, without detecting any natural gas leak or network problems. Authorities also investigated area refineries, ships passing through the Saronic Gulf, and Psyttalia facilities. So far, however, the source of the mysterious gas odor remains unknown, with investigations continuing.
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“We await the state to inform us about this phenomenon,” says Andreas Kondylis
“This phenomenon had likely started two days earlier, because we had reports from some citizens that two days before they sensed this natural gas smell, not so intense of course. Yesterday the phenomenon was very intense, we confirmed it was in many parts of the city and other areas, and for this reason we didn’t evacuate buildings, judging there was no safety concern, meaning no leak from any building requiring evacuation,” emphasizes Alimos Mayor Andreas Kondylis in statements to parapolitika.gr.
Additionally, he notes that “we instructed citizens to stay indoors with air purification devices, air conditioning and other similar equipment, and of course we were and continue to be in contact with many services, state agencies and ministries to locate and determine where this smell came from and what we should do if we face this phenomenon again.”
Regarding how we can explain yesterday’s phenomenon, meaning the possibilities for creating such an odor, according to Andreas Kondylis, it appears to have been something chemical. However, while we have ruled out refineries and Revythousa, and it hasn’t been determined what ultimately caused this odor, this smell. There is certainly some environmental burden, certainly a phenomenon that is probably human-caused. Therefore, we await the state to inform us because citizens are also worried and want to know whether what they inhaled is safe or dangerous to their health.”
As for Alimos municipality residents, “there was great concern, mainly because they didn’t know where it came from and how dangerous it is, whether it could cause an explosion, if it’s something that could harm them. Fortunately, we had no reports of nausea, dizziness or other such phenomena connected to this smell,” the Alimos mayor concluded.
