Grava schools to reopen on 2 November with gas supply shut off
Athens municipality announces a unanimous reopening decision. Gas-system reconnection remains a separate process, with late November as the stated target.
Updated 29.10.2026 · 19:09, Athens time — What changed
Schools at the Grava complex will reopen on Monday 2 November 2026, with the natural-gas supply shut off, according to the City of Athens announcement of 29 October. The municipal council decided unanimously at its 38th extraordinary meeting, following Mayor Haris Doukas’s proposal.
This supersedes the previous report that no return date had been set. The decision concerns reopening on 2 November; the schools have not already reopened on 29 October.
What the municipality says about checks
The municipality says examinations by ENAON, ICON and the Technical Chamber of Greece found no leak, and three additional ENAON checks using Picarro detected no relevant odour indication. These findings are attributed to the official municipal statement; they are not an independent technical certification by this newspaper.
The gas installation remains out of operation. The mayor sets late November as the target for certified operation after bringing it into line with the approved design. This is a works target, not completed reconnection or a guaranteed date.
Previous updates — history
Updated 13.10.2026 · 10:03 Athens time — What changed
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said on the morning of 13 October that an on-site inspection at the Grava school complex had been scheduled for today by a Technical Chamber of Greece expert, with engineers from KTYP and ministry officials present.
According to the ministry update, weekend checks found no active natural-gas leak. This is not yet certification for reopening: the schools remain closed and lessons continue remotely until the required procedures are complete.
The inspection is attributed to the ministry's official advance announcement. It has not been announced as completed, and no date has been given for pupils and staff to return.
Update, 12 October 2026, 11:36 Athens time — What changed: Technical checks carried out from 9 to 11 October on the school complex's two internal natural-gas installations found no leak, according to the City of Athens update reported by ERT News. The cause of the reported smell, however, remains unknown.
The checks identified discrepancies between the existing installations and their technical studies. The required certificates therefore cannot yet be issued and gas supply cannot be restored.
What is required before reopening
At the 40th Gymnasium and Lyceum, a flexible anti-vibration connector must be replaced and a new tightness test carried out. Reconnection also requires amended studies, completion of the technical work and issuance of the relevant certificates.
The school complex remains closed and remote learning continues until the checks and required interventions are complete. No date has been announced for pupils to return.
Initial report — 07:06 Athens time
Schools at the Grava complex remain closed on Monday 12 October 2026, with about 4,000 pupils attending lessons online. The closure remains in place until technical inspections are complete and clear assurances are provided about the safety of the facilities.
Supply to the burners has been cut
Athens deputy mayor for education Thomas Georgiadis told ERT News that the natural-gas supply to the complex's burners had been cut since Friday. Despite the measurements conducted so far, the source of the reported smell has not yet been identified.
Inspections are focusing on the heating equipment, boiler and extensive pipe network. City of Athens technicians joined checks carried out by the gas company, whose initial report is expected by the municipal authority.
What the city and Education Ministry say
Athens mayor Haris Doukas said the schools would remain closed until a report is available and requested additional checks by the Technical Chamber of Greece. His criticism of the competent authorities is the mayor's political position.
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said the inspection results and clear assurances of safe operation were required before pupils could return. No reopening date has yet been announced.
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