Four injured in Thessaloniki pipeline works as prosecutors and police open parallel inquiries

Leonidas Nikolopoulos, head of the Thessaloniki Appeals Prosecutor’s Office, requested that the head of the First Instance Prosecutor’s Office open an inquiry into the circumstances of the accident, including why the specific crew was carrying out the work at the time and whether all required safety and protection measures were in place.

The Appeals Prosecutor’s Office did not specify potential charges at this stage. The First Instance Prosecutor’s Office is expected to assess the evidence gathered during the preliminary examination and determine whether any criminal offences may have been committed.

Police have also begun assembling a case file. According to the report, officers were notified by EYATH on Tuesday afternoon and have started taking statements. The prosecutorial inquiry will be combined with the police file as the investigation develops.

A newly released video reportedly captures the moment one worker falls, with colleagues running to assist. The videos circulating publicly are expected to be included in the preliminary examination, alongside documentation on permits and the safety arrangements for the project, to assess whether any omissions could lead to criminal liability.

One of the four injured workers remains in Hippocrates Hospital. According to information cited from emakedonia.gr, the crew had worked through Sunday night to connect a new pipeline, with the accident occurring shortly before water supply was due to be restored during the process of venting air from the pipeline, immediately before it was connected to the wider network.

The workers were positioned on an auxiliary structure above the pipeline intended to allow safe work off the ground. Under unclear circumstances, possibly linked to air or water pressure, the structure collapsed and fragments struck the workers. One worker suffered a fractured leg and is expected to undergo surgery.

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