Explosion at Greek cookie factory kills five and injures seven in explosion
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TRIKALA, Greece — Five workers were killed and seven others injured early Monday when a powerful explosion ripped through a cookie factory in central Greece, authorities said.
Emergency officials reported that the blast occurred during the night shift at the Violanta biscuit plant on the outskirts of Trikala, about 320 kilometers north of Athens. The explosion triggered a partial building collapse and a fire that was quickly contained.
According to fire service spokespersons, eleven employees were inside the affected production wing at the time. Rescue crews recovered the bodies of five women from the debris. Six workers were pulled out alive, along with a firefighter who suffered minor injuries during the response.
Investigators said the explosion appeared to have originated near gas‑powered industrial ovens, though the exact cause has not been determined. Authorities noted that no external gas tanks were located in the immediate area, and specialists from the Arson Crimes Division have been deployed to examine the site.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said the government would ensure a full investigation. “It is a modern facility, and we must understand precisely what went wrong,” he said in a statement.
Violanta, one of Greece’s largest biscuit producers with exports to more than 40 countries, confirmed the incident and said it was cooperating with authorities.
More than 40 firefighters and specialized rescue teams responded to the scene, and nearby roads were closed to allow heavy equipment to access the site. Local officials said none of the injured workers were in critical condition.
The explosion is among the most serious industrial accidents in Greece in recent years and has renewed scrutiny of workplace safety standards across the country.
Further Reading:
https://apnews.com/article/greece-cookie-factory-explosion-trikala-952d9efe6b040ee5865c2fcd72dea0d8?
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/26/explosion-fire-cookie-factory-trikala-greece/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/greece-cookie-factory-explosion-trikala-violanta/