Civil protection authorities said Tuesday they could find no sign of a gas leak in Athens’ southern coastal suburbs but would continue to investigate after receiving a slew of complaints from residents worried about a strong gas-like stink.
The Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry said the natural gas system operator, DESFA, assured authorities that it hasn’t detected any leak at the Revythoussa storage facility southwest of Athens or any other point, while distribution network operator Enaon EDA also found no indication of a network problem.
It added that Coast Guard checks on merchant ships carrying liquefied natural gas failed to find anything untoward, while air pollution monitors had also registered no unusual readings and Fire Service crews sent out to parts of the city reporting a stench remained none the wiser.
“Investigations and checks continue,” the statement said, adding that the first complaints came in shortly before noon and the smell seemed more like liquid petroleum gas – commonly used for domestic cooking or heating, as well as for motor fuel – rather than natural gas.
The stink was reported as being particularly strong in Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada, Aghios Dimitrios, Nea Smyrni and Kallithea, but also further inland in Dafni and Neos Kosmos.
