Investigators in Greece on Tuesday were looking into the causes of a fire that killed five workers at a biscuit factory in the country’s worst industrial accident in years.
The deadly blaze erupted early Monday at the Violanta factory outside the city of Trikala, about 245 kilometres northwest of Athens. Security camera footage from nearby buildings captured the moment of the explosion, which tore through part of the facility and destroyed an entire section of the plant. Fire crews battled flames for hours as thick smoke engulfed the area.
Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said authorities were working quickly to establish how the fire started. “The case will be investigated to the end,” he told state broadcaster ERT, adding that an initial assessment of the cause could emerge as early as Tuesday.
Five women lost their lives in the incident. Fire officials said four victims were located shortly after the blast, while the fifth body was recovered Tuesday morning. Efforts to reach her had been slowed by lingering flames and unstable conditions inside the building.
Company employees told local media the death toll could have been far higher if more workers had not been on a scheduled break at the time of the explosion. The factory employs many residents from surrounding towns, and the incident has sent shockwaves through the local community.
Family members and colleagues said the women who died had taken night shifts so they could spend more time caring for their children during the day. Vigils were held in nearby neighborhoods as residents gathered to mourn the victims.
Violanta said in a statement that it strictly follows safety protocols and procedures, insisting all required measures were in place to protect staff and facilities. “We are mourning five of our own,” the company said, adding that it is fully cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.
The tragedy has also renewed scrutiny of workplace safety standards in Greece. A local trade union said it had never been granted permission to inspect the Trikala facility prior to the fire. According to the federation representing technical company employees, more than 200 people died in work-related accidents across the country in 2025.
Greece has witnessed several deadly industrial accidents over the past decades. In 1992, a refinery explosion near the port of Piraeus killed 15 people, while three workers died in a dynamite factory blast in central Greece in 2022.
The Trikala plant is Violanta’s first and largest production site, manufacturing around 12,500 tonnes of biscuits, cookies, and wafers annually. The brand has expanded rapidly in recent years, with products sold widely across Greece and exported to roughly 40 countries.
Authorities said inspections and witness interviews will continue in the coming days as investigators work to determine responsibility for one of the deadliest workplace disasters the country has seen in years.
