One of the two critically injured victims of last week’s explosion and fire at a heavy-vehicle workshop in Aspropyrgos passed away early Sunday morning (12 July 2026) at KAT Hospital. The incident, which occurred at a workshop servicing trucks—not an auto parts business as initially reported—left 11 people injured, three of them with severe burns requiring intubation.
Two Patients at KAT, One at Gennimatas
The two most severely burned individuals were transferred to KAT Hospital. One died early Sunday. The third, suffering extensive full-body burns, remains in critical condition at Georgios Gennimatas General Hospital.
Investigation Points to Double Explosion
According to preliminary findings by the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE), the disaster involved two explosions. Investigators believe the first was triggered by the ignition of a flammable gas mixture—likely caused by a leak from a propane or acetylene cylinder. Audio evidence from surveillance footage reportedly captures a worker saying, ‘I lit a cigarette and it caught fire.’
The resulting fire quickly spread to an adjacent area where a propane tanker—containing an estimated 1.5 to 2 tonnes of gas—was parked for repairs after a hose malfunction. DAEE’s report states the heat caused the tanker to rupture, leading to a second, far more powerful explosion due to rapid propane release.
Safety Oversight Under Scrutiny
The workshop, measuring approximately 500 square metres, falls under Greece’s ‘low-risk’ classification and is therefore not legally required to hold an active fire safety certification. Inspections are conducted only on a sampling basis—a regulatory gap experts have flagged as a systemic vulnerability.
Fire investigators are also reviewing the workshop’s submitted fire safety study to determine whether the presence and storage of gas cylinders were properly declared. The workshop owner maintains that all legally mandated safety measures were in place and claims no work was underway at the time of the explosion. He confirmed the tanker had been brought to the site the previous day for repairs.
Two Arrested, Facing Charges
In connection with the incident, two individuals—the workshop owner and the tanker operator—have been arrested and charged with felonies and misdemeanours. Both have been released pending trial.