A large fire broke out at dawn at the VIOLANTA biscuit factory in Trikala. According to the fire brigade, the fire broke out after an explosion in the premises.
The explosion at the premises of the Biolanda biscuit factory occurred in the basement of the factory at 03:50 on Monday morning 26/01 and immediately the ceiling panels collapsed due to the shock wave. The explosion could be heard in Trikala and in the villages in the distance where the windows were rubbing.
A total of 12 people were working at the factory site from which 4 women were found dead, while 3 people (women were taken to Trikala hospital injured, four people were men who were thrown out.
Another worker is missing.
According to reports, the workers on Sunday had been at a New Year's Eve cake event. At the moment, relatives of the victims are at the site of the tragic incident, trying to find out the fate of their loved ones.
In the pictures of ERTnews the first building on the left was the warehouse and then production started. The site of the explosion appears to have been where the ovens were located which operated on a 24-hour basis.
According to information, there were no LPG cylinders to justify such a large explosion, but ammonia and propane are materials that were mentioned as a possible cause, which was also heard in the city of Trikala.
«Strong firefighting forces remain on the scene and are trying to bring the fire under control. Access is difficult as the fire is still ongoing and we are providing any assistance needed while the relevant prosecutor is being informed,» ELAS spokeswoman Constantia Demoglidou told ERTnews earlier in the day.
Currently, a total of 60 firefighters and EMAK, with 13 vehicles, are working to extinguish the fire and locate the missing persons.
In addition, the EMAK from Lamia has also gone, while it has been instructed to go and the DAEE. Furthermore, according to the same information, part of the business has collapsed.
The announcement of VIOLANDA
Specifically it says: «Today there was a serious incident at our factory premises during the night shift, for reasons unknown so far.
The Fire Service and the competent authorities are on the scene and are operating.
There are 5 missing workers and every effort is being made by the Fire Service and the competent authorities to locate them.
Right now, all we care about is our people. We stand by them and their families and do everything possible to support them. At the same time, we are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and providing all available assistance.».
