Greek prosecutors have ordered an expanded investigation into the deadly explosion at cookie factory Violanta in the city of Trikala, central Greece, that killed five women working the night shift in the early hours of Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
The order was issued by the Trikala public prosecutor and delivered to the Fire Service’s Arson Crimes Directorate, which is conducting a detailed preliminary inquiry and will compile a full report on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The investigation will focus on two main areas: the technical causes of the explosion and the potential legal or administrative responsibilities related to the factory’s construction and operation.
Technical Investigation Into Propane Leak
Authorities say the explosion followed a prolonged and extensive propane leak that ignited inside the facility.
Investigators will excavate and remove underground propane supply pipelines connecting two above-ground tanks to the factory’s production area. The pipes will be sent to specialized laboratories to determine the exact point of rupture and what may have caused it.
Officials will examine whether the damage resulted from corrosion, faulty connections or external pressure. The company’s owner has reportedly told authorities that asphalt paving work took place at the site several months ago and did not rule out the possibility that the weight of passing trucks may have affected the underground pipes, which were buried at a depth of about 80cm (approximately 31 inches). Laboratory analysis is expected to determine whether that scenario contributed to the leak.
Soil and other materials from the site of the leak will also be collected and sent to the General Chemical State Laboratory to officially determine the quantity of propane that escaped. Authorities said this step is standard procedure, noting that detection equipment used at the scene indicated extremely high gas levels, suggesting a substantial leak.
For safety reasons, work at the site has been temporarily suspended due to lingering propane in the area. Access remains restricted, and no one may approach without authorization from the prosecutor. Excavation and technical inspections are expected to resume next week.
Scrutiny of Permits and Safety Compliance
The second part of the investigation concerns possible violations and responsibilities involving the factory’s licensing, construction permits and fire safety approvals.
The prosecutor’s order directs investigators to examine all relevant public authorities involved in approving and overseeing the facility’s operation, including regional development services, urban planning authorities and the Fire Service.
The section of the factory where the explosion occurred was built as an extension to the original facility and has been operating since 2007.
Preliminary findings indicate that an underground storage area in the newer wing did not appear in the original construction plans, which reportedly showed only the ground floor and met operational and fire safety requirements at the time. The plans also included two above-ground propane tanks that supplied fuel to the production area.
By contrast, the original factory building, located about 70 meters (approximately 230 feet) away, includes a basement and two underground propane tanks that supplied ovens and production lines.
Investigators are also reviewing updated active fire protection plans submitted by the company last September. According to the inquiry so far, those plans did not include the two above-ground propane tanks in the newer wing. Instead, they referenced two additional underground tanks located near the older ones. Those tanks had reportedly been installed to supply propane to the newer wing but had not yet been connected.
Officers from the Arson Crimes Directorate have seized all files related to the factory’s operation since its establishment from the General Directorate of Development in Thessaly. Authorities will examine whether all legally required procedures were followed and whether any omissions or irregularities occurred.
Officials said the goal of the investigation is to fully clarify the circumstances of the explosion and assign responsibility wherever it is found.
