As previously reported by The Press Project, two construction workers were seriously injured and initially taken to Corinth Hospital before being transferred to Thriasio Hospital for further treatment. The workers, aged 40 and 59, sustained fractures and facial burns, with one reported to be in a more serious condition.

Subsequent reports confirmed that two more workers, a 28-year-old Greek national and a 48-year-old Slovenian national, had been admitted to Corinth Hospital with minor injuries. According to available information, one was injured in a fall during the explosion, while the other sustained injuries from the blast wave.

Motor Oil’s statement

In an emergency statement, Motor Oil confirmed that the incident occurred during preventive maintenance work on a unit that was not in operation. According to the company, preliminary assessments suggest that the incident was caused by a release of steam, while the precise causes and circumstances remain under investigation in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

The company also announced the immediate suspension of maintenance operations until Monday 19 October.

‘Today, during preventive maintenance work on a unit that was not in operation, an incident occurred in which two contractor workers were injured. They were immediately transported to Corinth Hospital with fractures’, the company stated.

Police and Labour Inspectorate investigating

Officers from Corinth Police were dispatched to the scene, while inspectors from the Labour Inspectorate (SEPE) were also expected to visit the facility.

The relevant authorities are expected to conduct inspections and a preliminary investigation to establish the circumstances of the latest workplace accident and determine whether the required safety regulations were followed.

The explosion comes just days after another blast at the Motor Oil facility on Friday 9 October, which killed two contractor workers.

Union denounces continued work after explosion

Earlier, Georgios Garefalakis, a board member of the Panhellenic Energy Federation (POE), told The Press Project that work was continuing in parts of the refinery despite the severity of the explosion and the injuries sustained by workers.

‘Despite the powerful explosion and the injuries to our colleagues, the employer has not ordered a work stoppage. We, the trade unions, who have been here since the first moments of the incident, denounce the fact that, even now, people are working in the lower refinery facilities at Motor Oil! The same thing happened during the recent employer crime, which claimed the lives of two more colleagues! Work must stop NOW!’ he said.

Garefalakis also criticised the lack of information about the injured workers’ condition and the circumstances of the explosion, saying that details about what had happened and whether workers had remained at their posts were slow to emerge.

‘But this happens whenever there is an attempt at a cover-up. Information only trickles through’, he commented.

Addressing working conditions during maintenance shutdowns, Garefalakis argued that the pressure on workers intensifies when production is suspended and demanded immediate safety measures and a complete halt to operations at the facility.

‘Precisely because the unit is not operating, the pressure employers put on workers becomes unbearable. When maintenance is carried out, they stop making profits, our work intensifies and safety measures are completely disregarded. Safety measures now! Stop the attempted cover-up and stop work across all facilities before we have more victims!’ he stressed.

The circumstances of the latest explosion remain under investigation, with authorities examining its causes and whether the required workplace safety measures were observed.

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