Greek authorities have proceeded to the arrest of six individuals following a severe industrial accident that injured four workers at Motor Oil’s major refinery.
The incident occurred during planned welding operations executed by an external contractor, when a sudden and violent gas release triggered a powerful blast. This accident marks the second major safety failure at the Agioi Theodoroi facility in less than a month.
It follows a tragic October 9 incident where two contract workers died, an event that had already triggered intense prosecutorial scrutiny over the plant’s corporate safety protocols.
Police apprehend management and contractors
The Hellenic Police moved swiftly to investigate the blast and determine regulatory compliance regarding heavy industrial safety rules.
Officers initially arrested a 62-year-old and a 63-year-old who both work for the external contracting firm. Additionally, authorities detained a 46-year-old Motor Oil employee who holds a supervisory position at the refinery.
The official case file targets four more individuals for criminal negligence and safety violations. Three of these remaining suspects, all permanent Motor Oil employees, subsequently surrendered to local police voluntarily and face immediate prosecution.
Surgical interventions for severely injured crew
The violent gas release heavily injured four personnel on the scene during the accident at the refinery of Corinth, triggering an immediate deployment of emergency medical services.
Ambulances rushed the two most severely injured workers, aged 40 and 59, from Corinth to the Thriasio General Hospital in Elefsina.
Medical directors confirmed the patients suffered multiple fractures in their upper and lower limbs alongside mild, localized burns.
Both men underwent successful emergency surgeries and are currently experiencing a smooth post-operative recovery. One patient remains in the Intensive Care Unit for continuous monitoring without requiring mechanical ventilation. Attending physicians emphasize that neither man faces life-threatening complications.
Slovenian national discharged from hospital
The remaining two workers sustained minor injuries and traveled to the Corinth Hospital using a private vehicle.
This group includes a 28-year-old Greek national and a 48-year-old citizen of Slovenia. Hospital staff treated both individuals for surface wounds, and doctors have already officially discharged the Slovenian worker.
The repetitive accidents have sparked intense alarm among local labor unions regarding safety standards at major industrial hubs. The Corinth plant operates as Greece’s second-largest refinery and handles over one-third of the nation’s refining capacity. State technical inspectors are currently analyzing the machinery to isolate the exact technical trigger behind the violent gas release.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
