Aspropyrgos workshop explosion linked to gas leak and worker’s cigarette

A double explosion struck a heavy‑vehicle workshop in Aspropyrgos, Greece, on 9 July 2026. Investigators from the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE) say the first blast was caused by a leak of propane or acetylene from a gas cylinder that ignited when a worker tried to light a cigarette with a lighter. The fire quickly reached a nearby tanker truck carrying about 1.5‑2 tonnes of propane, causing a second, more powerful explosion.

Eleven people were injured; three remain in critical condition in intensive‑care units. The workshop, classified as a low‑risk facility, did not require an active fire‑protection certificate, and only sample inspections were performed. The owner of the workshop and the tanker driver have been arrested and face charges of homicide and culpable homicide, with a court appearance scheduled for 15 July. The incident has prompted scrutiny of fire‑safety regulations for industrial sites in the region.