Residents across southern parts of Athens were left alarmed on Tuesday, May 19, after a strong unexplained smell swept through several coastal suburbs, prompting hundreds of calls to emergency services.
The odour, which many compared to natural gas, was detected in areas including Piraeus, Palaio Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada and Saronida, leading to more than 350 reports to the fire brigade and other authorities.
Investigations carried out on land and at sea found no signs of a gas leak or industrial accident, with officials confirming there was no immediate threat to public safety.
Authorities are now exploring a number of possible explanations, including emissions from ship repair activity in Perama and Salamina, tanker cleaning operations near Aegina, or environmental activity within the Saronic Gulf.
Geology and disaster management professor Efthymios Lekkas told ERT that available evidence does not currently point to a natural gas leak or another major industrial source, noting further scientific investigation is needed.
Source: Tovima.
