Explosion And Fire At Greek Biscuit Factory Kills Five

In the predawn hours of January 26, 2026, a devastating explosion and fire ripped through the Violanta biscuit factory near Trikala, central Greece, leaving a trail of destruction and heartbreak in its wake. The incident, which unfolded during the night shift, claimed the lives of at least four workers—possibly five, all women—and left one person unaccounted for, according to multiple sources including BBC, Reuters, and the Associated Press. The blast and ensuing inferno also sent seven others, including a firefighter, to the hospital, though their injuries were not reported as life-threatening.

The Violanta factory, a major player in Greece’s food industry with a production capacity of 12,500 tons of biscuits, cookies, and wafers per year and exports reaching some 40 countries, was operating with 13 workers on-site that night. As the fire erupted, eight managed to escape, but for those caught inside, the odds were grim. Fire crews fought the blaze for hours, eventually recovering four bodies from the ruins. Later, parts of a fifth female body were discovered, with authorities planning to confirm her identity through DNA testing, as reported by the Associated Press.

Television footage broadcast by Greek news outlets showed the factory’s gutted shell, with thick, black smoke billowing into the sky and part of the building effectively split in two. The scale of the destruction was staggering. According to Reuters, more than 50 firefighters, supported by 16 fire trucks and 10 additional vehicles, were deployed to battle the flames. The fire brigade told BBC News that the force of the explosion and the subsequent fire left little hope for the missing worker’s survival.

Initial evidence pointed to the possibility of a gas leak as the cause of the blast, though the investigation remained ongoing as of Monday evening. Police and arson investigators focused their attention near the factory’s ovens, which operate around the clock and were suspected as the possible source of the explosion, according to both the Associated Press and Reuters. A prosecutor-supervised probe was underway, with authorities determined to establish exactly what triggered the tragedy.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis told ERTnews radio and Skai news agency that six workers and a firefighter had been hospitalized, mainly suffering from respiratory problems. Thankfully, none of their conditions were considered life-threatening. “They were in good health, mainly suffering from respiratory problems,” Georgiadis stated, as quoted by BBC News. The swift response of emergency services, including disaster response teams and arson investigators, was widely acknowledged, but the community was left reeling from the loss.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the nation during a televised cabinet meeting on Monday, expressing his condolences and promising a thorough investigation. “Unfortunately, the day began in the shadow of the tragic accident in Trikala, at a modern food production facility,” Mitsotakis said, as reported by the Associated Press. “Our thoughts today are with the families of the victims. On behalf of the entire Cabinet, I express to them our deepest condolences.” He further emphasized the government’s commitment to uncovering the circumstances behind the incident “so that responsibilities can be established.”

Violanta S.A., the factory’s owner, issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and support for the bereaved families. “Today a serious incident occurred at our factory premises, during the night shift, for a currently unknown reason,” the company said, according to the Athens News Agency and cited by Reuters. “We are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities and providing all available assistance.” In a second statement, the company added, “Our only concern is to stand with respect and support next to the families of the people we lost.”

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Greece, not only because of the loss of life but also due to the factory’s prominent role in the national and international biscuit market. Violanta, a locally-based business with national distribution and a rapidly growing brand, is a familiar name in Greek households and supermarkets. The company’s products—wholewheat cookies, chocolate-sandwich biscuits, and cereal bars—are exported to nearly 40 countries, underscoring the far-reaching impact of the disaster.

Greece’s largest labor union, GSEE, responded swiftly, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and highlighting the need for greater workplace safety. The union confirmed that all four identified victims were women and called for accountability. Their statement, as relayed by Reuters, underscored the broader concerns about industrial safety standards in the country, especially in light of this being one of Greece’s most fatal industrial accidents in recent years. The last comparable tragedy occurred in 1992, when 15 people died in a refinery explosion in the industrial zone of Elefsina, near the port of Piraeus.

Local officials echoed the somber mood. Giorgos Katavoutas, Trikala’s deputy mayor for civil protection, told BBC News that “there is no hope of finding any of the missing workers alive, given the force of the explosion and the fire that followed.” The scale of the destruction made rescue efforts perilous and the prospects of survival for the missing worker bleak.

As investigators combed through the wreckage, the community of Trikala and the wider nation grappled with the aftermath. The Violanta plant, the company’s first and largest facility, was left gutted, its once-busy production lines silenced by tragedy. For many in Trikala, the factory was not just a workplace but a pillar of the local economy and a symbol of the region’s industrial vitality.

In the coming days, attention will remain fixed on the investigation’s findings. Was it a gas leak, as initial evidence suggests? Did a malfunction near the ever-hot ovens set off the deadly chain of events? Or will new details emerge, prompting a broader reckoning with workplace safety in Greece’s manufacturing sector?

For now, the focus remains on supporting the families of those lost and injured, as well as ensuring that lessons are learned from this heartbreaking incident. As the smoke clears over Trikala, the memory of the victims and the resolve to prevent such tragedies in the future loom large in the minds of all those affected.