The local community of Trikala has been plunged into mourning by the tragedy that followed the deadly explosion and large fire in the early hours of Monday (26/1) at the Violanta biscuit factory, which resulted in the loss of five employees' lives.
Vasiliki, Elena and Stavroula were in production when the powerful explosion occurred and never returned home. According to ERT, the women were having fun together cutting the company's New Year's cake a few hours before the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the STAR published the latest photo of the three women.
From the party to the tragedy, Vasiliki, Elena, Stavroula were at the cutting of Violanta's New Year's cake a few hours before the explosion.
When the explosion occurred, the shift was expected to have 30 people. However, as ERT reported, due to the cake-cutting event, the manager reduced the number of employees to 12.
Mourning for Vasiliki, Elena, Stavroula
The first victim to be identified is 42-year-old Vasiliki Skampardoni, from Gardiki, Trikala, a mother of two children and particularly well-known in the local community, as she previously owned a hair salon in the area, before starting to work at this particular unit.
The victims include 45-year-old Elena Katsarou from the village of Glinos and Stavroula Boukovala from Karditsa. All three women, according to information so far, were mothers of young children.
The second victim to be identified is Elena Katsarou. The 45-year-old woman was from the village of Glinos and was married.
All bodies that have been recovered from the ruins are being transferred to the morgue of the Larissa General Hospital, where relatives provide a DNA sample in order to officially identify them.
Over 1.000 points in the factory
The noise from the explosion was so loud that it was heard even in neighboring villages, according to residents. The fire generated temperatures of over 1.000 degrees, indicating that the steel melted while part of the infrastructure collapsed from both the explosion and the heat generated.
A team from the Hellenic Fire and Rescue Service was at the scene of the tragedy, taking statements from workers who were rescued from the fire, in order to collect information about what happened and provide answers to the causes that caused the explosion. The main scenario being examined is that of a "violent explosion": That is, there was an undetected propane leak and the explosion was caused by a spark (it could even have been from the lighting of a switch). The fire followed as a consequence. The questions that arise are many, the main one being why the gas was not detected, whether there were such detectors in place and in operation, when the adequacy of the systems was checked.
Video of the firefighting and debris removal from the scene:
How the tragedy happened
The fire broke out at approximately 4:00 a.m. and burned down a wing of the factory. Five minutes before 4 a.m., a powerful explosion had occurred in the basement of the factory's main building, located on the Trikala-Karditsa highway.
Tragic fire destroys VIOLANTA Industry in Trikala first images dawn 26-1-2026
According to information, the explosion that caused the large fire in the facilities occurred in the center of the factory. The dead workers were found in the factory's basement, very close to each other after the explosion.
So far, 4 bodies have been recovered, while a 5th has been identified.
Watch video from the scene of the explosion at the Violanta factory in Trikala
The unit of the well-known biscuit manufacturer, according to information, used LPG, but during the first inspection, the tanks located outside appear to be facing no problems so far.
Thus, investigations will now focus internally on the factory premises where LPG was also used.
In any case, the answers to all questions will be given after the on-site inspection and the completion of the depositions, while experts from Athens have been appointed, specifically an electrician, a chemist and a pyrotechnician, who will submit their findings after the investigation they will carry out at the site.
Inspections were carried out in the industry in the summer
At the same time, the president of the Trikala Workers' Center, Dimitris Armagos, spoke to protothema.gr, saying that last summer inspections were carried out in the industry and they made specific observations, mainly regarding escape exits and the system for detecting possible LPG leaks used in the ovens.
In detail, what Mr. Armagos said: "We had visited this particular factory in the summer of 2025 at our own request, in order to determine whether health and safety measures were being observed, in a more general inspection that we wanted to conduct. During our visit, we identified issues and made specific observations, mainly regarding the escape exits and the system for detecting possible LPG leaks used in the ovens. We recorded and highlighted the problems we found at that time. From there on, 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 allowed to reach the entrance to the facilities." The question, of course, is when inspections were carried out by the competent industrial services and the Fire Department.
Violanta: Our only concern is to stand by the families of the people we lost
The Violanta company issued a new announcement earlier after the tragic incident that occurred at its factory in Trikala, causing the death of five people.
The management spoke of a moment of deep mental anguish, noting that there are no words capable of describing the magnitude of the tragedy. As it was emphasized, among other things, 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 announcement of the company in detail:
"In this moment of deep mental devastation, there are no words capable of describing the human pain caused by such a tragedy."
We express our deep sorrow and shock over the tragic incident that occurred at our factory in Trikala.
Our only concern is to stand with respect and support next to the families of the people we lost."
Audio document of the deafening explosion:
