The Directorate for Arson Crime Investigation (DAEE) concluded that there was no leak in the main natural gas network in Plaka, meaning that the leak occurred inside the building, in the second-floor apartment of the elderly couple.
“We conducted a leak test on the pavement. No leak was detected. The main network was found to be leak-free,” the Fire Service officer leading the investigation told Kathimerini.
The apartment was the only one in the building connected to the natural gas supply. It has not yet been determined which of the home’s three gas-powered appliances — the boiler, fireplace or stove — was the source of the leak. It is believed that the spark that caused the explosion was generated when the elderly resident switched on the bathroom light.
It is believed that the spark that caused the explosion was generated when the elderly resident switched on the bathroom light.
The investigation found no evidence of a gas leak before the explosion. According to Kathimerini, this is also supported by the absence of official reports of a gas smell before the blast, aside from claims reported by some media outlets.
Meanwhile, debris removed from the site is being taken to a designated facility in Aspropyrgos, as it may need to be examined by technical experts who could be appointed by the families of the six people killed in the tragedy.
Source: Kathimerini, News 247
