ATHENS, October 2026 — The Gkrava schools in Athens will stay closed and lessons will continue online until authorities clear up a reported gas odour, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said on Sunday.
Doukas took the new decision after three days of extensive gas odour checks at the school complex. A gas company carried out the checks with City of Athens technicians present.
The company was due to hand its first findings on the Gkrava schools to the municipality late on Sunday night, as the city had requested.
However, no team from the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) turned up to inspect the site.
“For the City of Athens, the safety of pupils and teachers in our schools is non-negotiable,” Doukas said.
At the same time, he said the company was checking the entire natural gas network at the Gkrava schools, on the city’s orders and under its direct supervision.
Mayor criticises the government
Doukas accused the government and the state’s responsible agencies of staying absent. He called on the education and civil protection ministries to take responsibility.
“The Ministry of Education washes its hands of the matter and confines itself to announcing meetings with stakeholders,” he said.
Building Infrastructures SA (KTYP), the state company that builds and maintains school buildings, never appeared, he said. Similarly, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection never showed up.
Although the city asked for the TEE’s help, the chamber has said it still has no access to the premises or to the related ministry report, Doukas said.
Gas odour checks continue
The mayor wants the Ministry of Education to order the TEE to inspect the complex immediately, given the seriousness of the issue.
He also wants urgent findings from a public-law body such as the TEE.
“Until then, the Gkrava schools will remain closed and lessons will be held through remote learning,” he said.
Gas safety has been a concern in the capital since the deadly explosion in Plaka in late September. A gas leak was among the leading theories for that blast.
“We are not putting the safety of pupils, teachers and staff at even the slightest risk,” Doukas said.
A safe solution must come immediately so that pupils and teachers can return to the Gkrava schools, he added.
Source: Athens-Macedonian News Agency
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Bill Giannopoulos
Junior Editor
Bill Giannopoulos is a Junior Editor at Greek City Times, covering Greek and international news, sport, and history.