Aspropyrgos industrial blast prompts KKE calls for stronger safety measures

An explosion and fire at a scrap‑metal plant in Aspropyrgos, western Attica, injured 11 workers, several with serious burns, and led to the death of one employee. Thousands of nearby residents were exposed to hazardous fumes from the blaze.

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) used the incident to urge the European Commission to adopt a comprehensive prevention plan for large‑scale industrial accidents, citing the Seveso III directive. KKE MEP Leuteris Nikolaou‑Alavanos submitted questions about the lack of evacuation routes, public information, and the reliance on self‑assessment by companies for risk evaluation. The party also criticized the government and employers for failing to protect workers and announced upcoming labor mobilisations.

KKE’s statements emphasized the need for stricter health‑and‑safety regulations, accountability for responsible parties, and the implementation of a thorough emergency response strategy to prevent further tragedies in the industrial zone of western Attica.