No Gas leak. Cause of smell in Athens remains a … mystery

Greek authorities have completed inspections of a possible gas leak as the cause of the strong gas smell spread mostly along the south suburbs of Athens on Tuesday.

According to official statement on Wednesday morning by the natural gas distribution network Enaon EDA, “inspections of the Attica natural gas network were completed on Tuesday, at 22:30, and no natural gas leak was detected, nor was any finding identified that could be linked to the distribution network.”

Enaon EDA said further it had received more than 356 calls from concerned residents in areas including Voula, Vouliagmeni, Vari, Glyfada, Ilioupoli, Argyroupoli, Palaio Faliro, Nea Smyrni, and Vyronas.

At the same time, there has been no indication of increased pollutants.

According to media information, so far no suspicious incident has been recorded, nor has there been any indication of marine pollution or any other incident that could be linked to the stench.

The Coast Guard keeps on carrying out preventive patrols and inspections, giving particular emphasis to maritime areas where ships pass, as well as to installations of energy interest, without however having so far found any worrying findings.In this sense, the cause of the problem remains a … mystery with several scenarios circulating as scientists tried to solve the puzzle.

As possible sources of the problem are named:

1. port or shipping activities
2. fuels
3. sewage
4. organic decomposition or phytoplankton.

Scientists stressed that further measurements, cross-checking and even meteorological investigations are needed.

Speaking to Mega TV, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Demosthenes Sarigiannis, emphasized that the source of the problem was in the Saronic Gulf.

“It was not a natural gas leak nor did it come from an industrial facility. We have concluded is that the source is in the Saronic Gulf and with two main scenarios as the most likely:

One scenario is “the source to be in the Shipbuilding Repair Zone in the area between Perama and Salamina, where ship repairs and dismantling are carried out. The odor came from the dismantling of the tanks. The second scenario is that it came from a tanker anchored outside Aegina, in the tank cleaning phase. Both scenarios are equally likely.”

On social media, Greeks and foreigners living in Athens expressed concerns of an upcoming earthquake or even leakage of radioactive or other substances harmful to people.

The unpleasant odor  (KTG reported HERE on Tuesday) subsided late on Tuesday night, after the winds got a bit stronger and rain fell in the broader area along the Athens Riviera and other suburbs of Athens.

PS On Wednesday, we, residents of Athens, continue our daily life as usual hoping that this country will never acquire nuclear energy, as the government ambition appears to be.