TRIKALA, Greece — Greek firefighters searched for missing workers Monday after the Greece factory fire and an apparent explosion tore through a biscuit factory in the Thessaly region, leaving at least three people dead and others unaccounted for. Officials said the blaze erupted shortly before 4 a.m. and spread rapidly through a wing of the plant, Jan. 26, 2026.
Fire officials said 13 workers were inside when the fire broke out and eight managed to escape as thick black smoke billowed over the industrial complex, according to a Reuters report. Early accounts said five workers were missing, and the search shifted to recovery as crews located victims inside the building.
Greece factory fire: what we know about the blaze
Where: The fire hit the Violanta biscuit factory on the Trikala-Karditsa national highway in central Greece, eKathimerini reported.
When: Authorities said the emergency began just before 4 a.m. during an overnight shift, with local media reporting a loud explosion moments earlier.
Casualties: Officials confirmed at least three deaths. Local reports later said the toll rose to four and at least one worker remained missing as teams searched unstable sections of the facility.
Response: About 40 firefighters and more than a dozen engines were deployed, with additional rescue units requested as flames remained visible along parts of the roofline.
Several of the employees who escaped were taken to Trikala General Hospital for treatment. Local media also reported that at least one firefighter was hospitalized, according to Anadolu Agency.
Parts of the facility collapsed as the fire spread, complicating access for rescuers and forcing police to restrict nearby roads. Greece’s disaster response unit, EMAK, and fire investigators from the arson directorate were called in, ProtoThema reported.
Investigation underway
The cause of the Greece factory fire was not immediately clear. Officials said investigators would examine the damaged production areas once the site was deemed safe and the risk of flare-ups had passed, while authorities worked to identify the victims and notify relatives.
Older incidents add context
While officials cautioned it was too early to assign blame in the Greece factory fire near Trikala, Greece has faced other major industrial emergencies in recent years. In June 2024, firefighters battled a large blaze at an Athens cookware factory that prompted public warnings about heavy smoke, according to Reuters. In March 2022, an explosion at a commercial dynamite factory near Grevena killed three workers, The Associated Press reported.
Authorities said the Greece factory fire scene would remain sealed as long as necessary for rescue work and forensic inspections. Officials urged residents to avoid the area while crews continued to monitor the site for rekindling and to complete the search for anyone still missing.
