A tragic incident unfolded in Anopoli, a village in Heraklion, Crete, when a 36-year-old man was found dead at his home following a kitchen fire.

According to local reports, the man had likely left his gas stove on, which ignited a fire in the kitchen cabinets. Initial reports had speculated a boiler explosion, but investigators from the Fire Department confirmed that the blaze was caused by gas and not an explosion.

Authorities say the man had returned home from a social event around 2 a.m., turned on the stove, and fell asleep. The fire spread in the cabinets, and toxic fumes caused him to lose consciousness.

He lived alone, and when he failed to respond to morning calls from family and did not show up for work, concern grew. His sister visited the house and discovered him unresponsive, immediately notifying emergency services.

Firefighters and paramedics from Greece’s National Emergency Center (EKAB) rushed to the scene, but the man’s death was instantaneous, and no medical intervention could save him.