The investigation into the explosion at the Violanta biscuit factory in Trikala is fully underway, following the deaths of four women and the discovery that one more worker remains missing. The fire broke out for reasons that remain unknown, while the Fire Service and authorities continue efforts to clarify the exact circumstances of the tragic incident.

The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Monday, shortly before 4:00 a.m., when a fire broke out in a wing of the Violanta factory in Trikala. According to the Fire Service, a powerful explosion preceded the blaze, leading to the collapse of a large part of the facility and trapping five women inside. Of the 13 employees present at the factory at the time, eight managed to escape safely, while five women were initially reported missing.

Ongoing investigations and involvement of authorities

The Fire Service and EMAK rescue teams, assisted by heavy machinery, continue search operations to locate the fifth missing woman. So far, four bodies have been recovered and identified, while authorities are examining all possible scenarios regarding the cause of the explosion.

The Directorate for Arson Crime Investigation (DAEE) has already arrived at the scene and is collecting testimonies from workers who survived, in an effort to shed light on the incident.

At the same time, two expert investigators from Athens have been appointed to examine the conditions of the explosion, including an electrical engineer, a chemical engineer, and a pyrotechnics expert tasked with analysing the causes.

Shock and mourning in the local community

The local community of Trikala is in shock, as the explosion was so powerful that it was heard in neighbouring villages. Relatives of the victims rushed to the scene seeking information about their loved ones. The company Violanta expressed its deep sorrow and pledged to support the families of the victims.

Vasiliki, Elena and Stavroula were working in the production area when the explosion occurred and never returned home. According to public broadcaster ERT, just hours before the tragedy the women had been celebrating together at the company’s traditional New Year cake-cutting event.

Meanwhile, STAR television aired what it described as the last photograph of the three women together.

It is also noted that while 30 employees were scheduled to be on shift at the time of the explosion, the number had been reduced to 12 due to the company event, according to ERT.

Victims identified

The first identified victim is 42-year-old Vasiliki Skampardoni from Gardiki, Trikala. She was a mother of two and well known in the local community, having previously owned a hair salon before working at the factory.

Among the victims are also 45-year-old Elena Katsarou from the village of Glinos and Stavroula Boukovala from Karditsa. According to available information, all three women were mothers of young children.

All bodies recovered from the debris are being transferred to the morgue of the General Hospital of Larissa, where relatives are providing DNA samples for official identification.

Questions surrounding the causes

The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Scenarios under investigation include technical failures, infrastructure defects, or human error. Early indications suggest that the explosion was powerful enough to cause extensive destruction and lead to devastating loss of life.

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis stated that cooperation with judicial authorities will continue and that the investigation will proceed until the full clarification of the events. Political parties expressed their condolences, while the Mayor of Trikala proposed declaring three days of municipal mourning.

Temperatures exceeded 1,000°C

Witnesses reported that the explosion was heard as far away as neighbouring villages. Temperatures inside the factory reportedly exceeded 1,000 degrees Celsius, causing even steel structures to melt and large sections of the building to collapse, both from the blast itself and the extreme heat.

A DAEE investigative team remains on site, collecting testimonies to determine what led to the explosion. The main working scenario is that of a “violent explosion”, potentially caused by an undetected propane gas leak. A spark—possibly even from switching on a light—may have triggered the blast, followed by the fire.

Key questions remain: why the gas was not detected, whether gas detectors were installed and operational, and when safety systems were last inspected.