Fire at Greek biscuit factory kills four women: union

Four people died and one was missing following an explosion at a biscuit factory near the central Greek city of Trikala, the fire brigade said.

A total of 53 firefighters, assisted by 16 trucks and ten vehicles, intervened in the fire that engulfed the factory facilities.

Owner Violanta SA said the cause of the incident was unclear, according to a statement quoted by the Athens News Agency.

Fire officials told Reuters that eight of 13 people at the factory managed to escape.

Four bodies were found, the fire department said, adding that investigators and disaster response units were at the scene.

Greece’s largest labor union, GSEE, said the four victims were women and demanded a thorough investigation of the incident.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis told ERTnews radio that six people, including a firefighter, were being treated at a local hospital, mostly for respiratory problems, but their lives were not at risk.

“We only care about our people right now. We are here for them and their families and are doing everything possible to support them,” Violanta said in a statement. he said.