A school complex in Athens remains closed for an 11th day Tuesday as authorities await a technical report on an unexplained gas-like odor that has disrupted classes for approximately 4,000 students and prompted parents to file a criminal complaint calling for an investigation into possible wrongdoing. The Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), the country’s professional engineering body, is expected to submit its findings to the Education Ministry and the Municipality of Athens by Friday, Oct. 23, at the latest.
According to information reported by To BHMA, engineers investigating the Grava school complex have so far found no evidence of a gas leak. Monitoring equipment installed in the boiler room has not detected any indications of leaking gas. The report is nevertheless considered necessary for the process of certifying the complex’s natural gas installations to proceed. According to the same information, the complex’s natural gas system last underwent certified pressure and leak testing in 2014.
A pressure gauge and gas pipes at the Grava school complex in Athens, where specialist teams carried out inspections following reports of a strong gas odor that raised safety concerns. Oct. 11, 2026. (Giorgos Kontarinis/Eurokinissi)Κυριακή 11 οκτωβρίου 2026 (ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΚΟΝΤΑΡΙΝΗΣ/EUROKINISSI)
Further inspections are expected as authorities seek to identify the source of the unusual odor, which has been reported at the complex over the past month. No date has been announced for the resumption of in-person classes.
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Parents Demand Safety Guarantees
The Grava complex, which houses 15 schools spanning from kindergarden to high-school, has been closed since Oct. 9, with approximately 4,000 students attending classes remotely. Last Thursday, representatives of the Parents’ Association of Athens’ 5th Municipal District filed a criminal complaint asking the Athens prosecutor’s office to investigate whether any criminal offenses or failures to act had occurred in connection with the incident. The parents also requested that prosecutors prioritize the case, citing the seriousness of the situation.
A leaflet from students at the Grava school complex in Athens reads, “Inspect Grava so we don’t end up like Violanta,” referring to the cookie factory in central Greece where five women were killed in a gas explosion in January 2026. Oct. 11, 2026. (Giorgos Kontarinis/Eurokinissi)Κυριακή 11 οκτωβρίου 2026 (ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΚΟΝΤΑΡΙΝΗΣ/EUROKINISSI)
Before their children return to classrooms, parent representatives are demanding documentation confirming that all required inspections have been carried out, along with certification establishing that the school facilities are safe. They have also called for an inspection of a third natural gas line serving the complex’s swimming pool, even though the line is currently inactive.
Athens Municipality Seeks Changes to Heating System
The Athens municipality has asked Building Infrastructure SA (KTYP), the public company responsible for school buildings, to install separate heating systems for the 15 schools at Grava. Currently, 14 of the schools rely on a shared heating system, while only one has its own. Athens Deputy Mayor for Education Thomas Georgiadis said the municipality submitted the request to KTYP in June. He described the existing arrangement as a mistake from an energy management perspective.
Georgiadis also addressed reports about the possible installation of air-conditioning units at the complex, saying such a project would be too expensive for the municipality to finance.
Source: TO BHMA