Video evidence captured the deadly explosion at the Violanta factory. At 3:55 a.m. on Monday, the explosion shook the factory, was heard as far as Trikala, and claimed the lives of five female workers on the night shift.
The fire caused temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius. Indicatively, steel melted and part of the infrastructure collapsed, both due to the explosion itself and the extreme heat that developed.
According to information, the bodies of the women were all found in the basement, very close to one another. The video evidence presented by protothema.gr confirms reports that had emerged since the morning, according to which an explosion preceded the fire at the factory in Trikala. Units of the authorities are searching for the causes of the explosion that resulted in the death of the five employees.
The facility of the well-known biscuit manufacturing company reportedly used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). However, during the initial inspection, the tanks located outdoors do not appear, so far, to present any problems.
The investigation is being led by the Arson Crimes Investigation Unit, a team of which is already present in Trikala.
How the tragedy happened at Violanta
The fire broke out shortly before 4:00 a.m. and leveled a wing of the factory. A few minutes earlier, a powerful explosion had occurred in the basement of the main factory building, located on the Trikala–Karditsa national road.
According to information, five female employees were at the location where the explosion occurred, while another five employees and one firefighter were transported to the hospital. All injured individuals have already been discharged.
Inspections had been carried out at the factory in the summer
Meanwhile, the president of the Trikala Labor Center, Dimitris Armagos, spoke to protothema.gr, stating that inspections had been carried out at the factory last summer and that they had made specific observations, mainly regarding emergency exits and the detection system for possible LPG leaks used in the ovens.
In detail, Mr. Armagos said:
“We visited the specific factory in the summer of 2025 following our own request, in order to ascertain whether health and safety measures were being observed, as part of a more general inspection we wanted to conduct. During our visit, we identified issues and made specific remarks, mainly concerning emergency exits and the detection system for possible LPG leaks used in the ovens. We recorded and highlighted the problems we identified at that time. Beyond that, I do not know what followed. In general, as a labor center, we seek to conduct regular inspections; however, most of the time we are only allowed to reach as far as the entrance of the facilities.”
Violanta: “Our sole concern is to stand by the families of the people we lost”
Violanta issued a new statement following the tragic incident that occurred at its factory in Trikala.
The company’s management speaks of a moment of deep emotional devastation, noting that there are no words capable of describing the magnitude of the tragedy.
As emphasized, the priority at this time is to support the families of the people who were lost, with the company stating that it will stand by them with respect and support.
The company’s full statement:
“At this moment of deep emotional devastation, there are no words capable of describing the human pain caused by such a tragedy.
We express our profound sorrow and shock over the tragic incident that occurred at our factory in Trikala.
Our sole concern is to stand with respect and support beside the families of the people we lost.”
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