A large fire broke out inside the premises of a business in Aspropyrgos on Thursday morning was likely caused by an explosion of a gas cylinder, according to information from the Fire Department’s arson crimes division.
A total of 11 people have been hospitalized with burn injuries and breathing difficulties in Athens, three of whom are in serious condition.
The blaze, which has now been largely contained, is believed to have started at a car repair area of the business where two workers from Romania were performing welding work, which probably caused sparks. Both men are among the three people who were seriously injured in the explosion and remain intubated in hospital.
According to the same source, after the initial fire broke out, people from neighboring businesses rushed to the scene to see what had happened when a second explosion followed, possibly in a tank with propane residues, which was in the workshop for repairs.
The investigation is underway and authorities are collecting footage from the cameras of neighboring businesses.
