Eleven injured, three intubated after explosion and fire at Aspropyrgos spare parts plant; union alleges safety failures
A morning fire and explosion at a spare parts business in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, left 11 people injured on Thursday, three of them intubated with severe burns. A propane tanker on site complicated the firefighting effort, while labour representatives accused employers and the state of neglecting workplace safety.
The incident
A fire broke out around 8:00 a.m. on 9 July at a spare parts business at the junction of Megaridos and Chiou streets in the industrial zone of Aspropyrgos. An eyewitness reported seeing smoke shortly after 7:35 a.m., with an explosion following about fifteen minutes later. Flames spread rapidly through flammable materials, engulfing adjacent businesses and sending thick black smoke across Attica, visible as far as central Athens.
- Smoke first observed by eyewitness at the site
- Explosion occurs, creating intense thermal load
- Fire reported at spare parts business; fire service mobilised
- 112 emergency alert issued, residents told to evacuate
- 75 firefighters, 24 vehicles, 1 helicopter deployed; 11 injured transported to hospitals
A propane tanker parked inside the facility for maintenance raised fears of a larger blast. The fire service deployed 75 firefighters with 24 vehicles, municipal water tankers, and one helicopter. One seriously injured man was pulled from the site by rescue crews.
Casualties
Eleven people were taken to Thriasio and Attikon hospitals. At Attikon, a 42-year-old man (reported by some outlets as the business owner) was intubated with severe burns and later transferred to the KAT burn centre; four others arrived on their own with respiratory problems. At Thriasio, two patients were intubated, three were treated for lighter burns, and one was discharged after first aid. A woman admitted to Thriasio with burns was described as being in good condition.
From the incident at the factory we have a total of six injured. Five were taken to Thriasio Hospital. Of those, two are intubated and in serious condition, while the other three have lighter injuries and are being treated in the wards. There is one more injured person who went on his own, on foot, to Attikon Hospital. However, he had serious burns and was eventually intubated as well.
Initial reports cited six injured; the count was later updated to eleven by emergency services.
Safety allegations
Stavros Christidis, from the administration of the Labour Centre of Western Attica, said the fire exposed a systemic absence of state inspections and safety measures across the industrial zone.
There are no properly staffed state departments that come here to check on employers who leave workplaces wide open. Here there are refineries, there are companies with chemicals. A large-scale industrial accident could happen in the area and we could be mourning victims.
He called on the government, the ministry, and employers to take responsibility, and alleged that workers in nearby factories had continued working despite the dangerous conditions, forcing union members to evacuate them.
Response
At 8:34 a.m., the Civil Protection authority issued a 112 emergency alert instructing anyone near Megaridos Street to evacuate toward Aspropyrgos via Agiou Georgiou Street. Authorities warned of a possible toxic cloud due to the burning materials. The fire was described as difficult to control because of the intense thermal load and the presence of the propane tanker.
