A broad investigative mandate issued by the Prosecutor of Trikala regarding the deadly accident at the Violanta biscuit factory—which claimed the lives of five female night-shift workers in the early hours of Monday, January 26, 2026—has been assigned to the Fire Service’s Directorate for the Investigation of Arson Crimes (DAEE), which is tasked with compiling its detailed findings on the tragedy.

Under the prosecutor’s order, DAEE officers are examining not only possible liabilities or violations by the company, but also all public services and authorities involved in the factory’s construction and operating permits.

DAEE received the prosecutorial order for a preliminary investigation yesterday and has already begun procedures aimed at fully clarifying the circumstances of the tragedy. The investigation is proceeding along two main lines:

1. The technical aspect, focusing on the puncture of propane pipelines and the causes that led to it, resulting in a prolonged and extensive propane leak over several months and ultimately the fatal explosion; and
2. The actions or omissions of the competent authorities, concerning the conditions under which the facility was permitted to operate, to determine whether failures occurred and to assign responsibility where applicable.

Technical Investigation

Regarding the first line of inquiry, a DAEE team will proceed with excavation and removal of the propane supply pipelines, which run from the two above-ground tanks to the factory’s production area. The pipes will be sent to laboratories to identify the precise point of puncture and determine the causes—whether mechanical damage, corrosion, or faulty connections.

According to information, the company’s owner stated that asphalting work had been carried out at the site several months earlier and did not rule out the possibility that the weight of passing trucks may have affected the underground pipelines, which run at a depth of approximately 80 centimeters. This scenario, along with others, will be assessed by laboratory analysis.

Soil and other materials from the leak site will also be collected and sent to the General Chemical State Laboratory to officially certify the quantity of propane that leaked. Officials note that this is a standard procedure, as measuring instruments had “hit red,” indicating an extremely large leak.

Due to the ongoing danger posed by residual propane, all work has been temporarily suspended and is expected to resume next week. Access to the area is strictly prohibited without prosecutorial authorization.

Investigation into Responsibility

The second—and particularly serious—part of the investigation concerns possible violations and responsibilities, extending to all relevant public services, including the Directorate of Development, Urban Planning Authorities, the Fire Service, and others.

It is noted that the section of the factory where the powerful explosion and fire occurred was constructed as an extension of the original facilities and has been operating since 2007.

According to preliminary findings, the underground storage area was not included in the original building plans, which showed only the ground floor of the facility. That configuration reportedly met all operational and fire safety requirements and included the two above-ground propane tanks from which the gas that leaked was supplied.

The newer wing is structurally identical to the original building, located approximately 70 meters away. In the plans for the original facility, however, there was a basement as well as two underground propane tanks, which supplied the ovens and production lines.

According to the same investigation, in the active fire protection plans submitted last September, the two above-ground tanks of the newer wing were not listed. Instead, two additional underground tanks near the older ones were included. These tanks had indeed been installed to supply the newer wing with propane but had not yet been connected.

Seizure of Documents

According to informed sources, DAEE officers have already seized all files from the Directorate of Development of the Thessaly Region relating to the company’s operation since its founding. Authorities will examine whether all legally required procedures were followed by the competent services, with the aim of answering all outstanding questions and shedding full light on the tragic case.