Once the fire is completely extinguished, investigations are expected to resume at the "Violanta" factory, with the aim of fully clarifying the causes of the deadly explosion that claimed the lives of five female workers. Until then, there is a risk of a new ignition as the leak was so extensive that the propane had penetrated 25 meters underground.
According to MEGA, the pipes carrying the gas were located at a depth of 1 to 1,5 meters, while the leak appears to extend for about 25 meters. Even a small spark from an excavator could cause a new explosion, which is why work has been temporarily halted. New measurements are expected in the middle of next week.
In the ERT photographic document from the basement of the factory where the explosion occurred, the four perforations in the pipes, through which the propane penetrated, can be seen.
The undeclared basement
In the meantime, despite the temporary suspension of investigations, the procedures for checking technical data and documents by the competent services continue, in order to identify irregularities and failures, such as the lack of fire safety systems in the basement where the explosion occurred.
The total area of the factory was 3.400 sq m. According to regulations, for surfaces over 3.500 sq m. a complete water supply and fire extinguishing system is required, costing 200.000 to 400.000 euros.
The authorities estimate that the additional 400 square meters of the basement were not declared, so as not to exceed the limit and avoid the obligation to install the fire extinguishing system.
The Region of Thessaly, in an inspection carried out at the factory premises in December 2019, found violations regarding the location of the four tanks at the factory.
During the inspection, two underground LPG tanks with a capacity of 9000 liters were located, located less than three meters from the property boundaries, as well as two above-ground tanks with a capacity of 5000 and 9000 liters, located less than 7.5 meters from the boundaries.
On February 17, 2020, the company filed a reorganization request requesting a review of the negative recommendation.
The Region of Thessaly finally proceeded to grant a continued operating license, however, giving the company a two-year period for technical restructuring.
The decision includes specific obligations for the company, the most important of which is the relocation of the LPG tanks away from the property boundaries.
The interested party must obtain a building permit for the placement of the LPG tanks from the competent urban planning department during the period of this permit. However, according to the 2025 topographic map presented by ERTnews, the tanks are depicted as an existing and fixed installation and again at a distance of 5,40 meters, i.e. less than the 7.5 meters specified by law.
Employee warnings about safety issues
Meanwhile, allegations are coming to light that workers had already pointed out serious problems at the facilities as early as last July.
"We had complaints from within the factory that the temperatures were high; we found that the electrical equipment also had serious problems, as did the escape routes," said George Liatifis, general secretary of the Labor Center.
The president of the Association of Occupational Safety and Health Inspectors, Giota Rozou, emphasized that the responsibility for the safe operation of facilities is a non-negotiable obligation of the employer.
At the same time, in November 2025, according to information, the company's managers had banned union representatives from entering the factory premises.
The seven critical mistakes before the deadly explosion
The tragedy in "Violanda" seems to have been avoidable if seven crucial mistakes had not been made that led to the explosion:
Undeclared spaces and propane tanks without corrective actions
Lack of a spill response plan
Non-existent or inadequate service controls
Undergrounding of pipes without the required specifications
Asphalt paving works over underground pipelines
Ignoring employee reports of suspicious odor
Absence of checks with portable meters even at the last minute
Source: ethnos.gr
