An explosion was reporedly heard before the fire erupted in the early hours of Monday.

07:37, Mon, Jan 26, 2026 Updated: 08:01, Mon, Jan 26, 2026

Smore rising from a factory

A drone view of smoke billowing after a fire at a food factory, near the city of Trikala, Monday. (Image: Reuters)

Four women have died and two are missing after a fire erupted at a factory in Greece. The bodies of three of the women were found shortly before 9am (7am GMT) this morning in Trikala, a city in northwestern Thessaly, and the fourth woman was discoverd shortly after.

The devastating fire broke out at the Violanta biscuit factory on the Trikala-Karditsa highway erupted in the early hours of this morning at around 4am (2am GMT). Noise from the deafening explosion was heard across surrounding villages with thick black smoke seen billowing into the night sky. Around 40 firefighters and 13 fire engines raced to the scene to tackle the fire engulfing the industrial facility.

Local water tankers and investigators from the Arson Crimes Prevention Directorate (Lamia) are at the scene, working to extinguish any remaining fires and investigate the cause.

At the time of the massive explosion 13 people were inside, six workers and one firefighter have been transported to Trikala Hospital. They are believed to be in a stable condition. 

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"Very strong firefighting forces remain at 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 competent prosecutor is being informed", ELAS Press Spokesperson Constantia Dimoglidou told ERTnews earlier.

A large bang was heard moments before the blaze broke out, reports local media.