Explosion in Plaka: the central gas pipeline is intact – they are looking for a leak on the second floor

The investigation into the explosion in Plaka, which killed six people, has taken an important step: the central gas pipeline near the destroyed house has been checked and found to be leak-tight. This sharply narrows the range of possible causes – now the main search is focused on the internal gas installation on the second floor.

Briefly about the main thing

• the central gas network on the sidewalk in front of the building was checked – no leaks were found;
• specialists checked the area from the main pipe to the building meter;
• the investigation considers the most likely source of the leak inside the house;
• the main focus is on the second floor apartment – the only one with an independent supply of natural gas;
• there was a gas boiler, kitchen and energy fireplace;
• the exact location of the leak and the source of ignition have not yet been established;
• Some of the equipment, including the boiler and kitchen elements, has not yet been found among the wreckage.

The main gas pipeline was excluded

According to Kathimerinispecialists from the Fire Crime Investigation Department – ΔΑΕΕ – completed an inspection of the central gas main near the building on Lysikratous Street.

A leak test revealed no leaks in the main pipe running under the sidewalk or in the area leading to the building.

A fire service officer involved in the investigation told the publication that the central network turned out to be sealed.

ERT clarifies that a section of about two meters in length was checked – from the main gas line to the building meter. Nitrogen and pressure gauges were used for testing.

The investigation moved inside the house

After excluding the external network, the main version of the investigation is that gas accumulated inside the building.

Particular attention is paid to the second floor apartment where an elderly couple lived. It was this apartment, according to available data, that had an autonomous supply of natural gas.

Gas was used for several devices at once:

• small boiler;
• kitchen equipment;
• energy fireplace.

Investigators are now trying to figure out where exactly the leak may have originated: in the piping, connections, boiler, kitchen system or other internal installation element.

Some of the equipment has not yet been found

The problem is that the investigation is being conducted amidst a huge amount of debris.

According to Kathimerini, neither the boiler nor part of the kitchen equipment have yet been discovered. That is why it is now impossible to establish a specific technical defect.

All debris of possible interest to experts is transported to a special site in Aspropyrgos. They are kept, among other things, in case the families of the victims appoint their own technical consultants.

OPEN TV: Experts study the gas pipeline and the internal system of the building in Plaka.

Could the gas have accumulated all night?

ERT cites one of the working versions of the investigation: the leak could have started at night, after which the gas gradually accumulated inside the room and formed an explosive mixture.

At the same time, the question remains open as to whether what exactly was the source of ignition.

One of the hypotheses is an ordinary electric spark – for example, when turning on a light. But this is still only a version, and not the final conclusion of experts.

OPEN TV: Investigators are trying to reconstruct the gas path inside the building and determine the location of the leak.

What remains to be seen

Investigators must answer several key questions:

• whether the internal gas installation was carried out according to the rules;
• when was she last checked?
• whether the necessary leak-tightness certificates were available;
• whether safety valves and a leak detection system have been installed;
• where exactly the damaged pipe or device was located;
• which became the immediate source of ignition.

At the same time, engineers continue to check the condition of neighboring buildings that received serious damage from the explosion and subsequent collapse.

Six dead

The tragedy occurred on the morning of September 25 on Lysikratous Street.

Died under the rubble four tourists from the USAwho lived in a short-term rental apartment on the first floor, and an elderly couple on the second floor.

“Athens News” spoke in detail about the dead in the material “Tragedy on Plaka: honeymoon and expecting a child ended under rubble”.

We also previously reported that Even before the tragedy, residents of Plaka warned the authorities about the risks associated with gas and fire safety.

What has changed in the investigation’s version?

Immediately after the explosion, almost all options were considered – from an external gas network to an internal installation.

Now one of the important uncertainties has been removed: the main line and the external gas supply section turned out to be sealed.

This does not mean that the cause of the tragedy has already been established. But the investigation is now focused on a much narrower area – the internal system of the second floor.

Sources

• Kathimerini – results of inspection of the central gas pipeline
• ERTnews – investigation of an internal gas installation

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