Long-term propane leak from underground pipe to blame for explosion at Violanta factory, investigators reported on Wednesday.
A months-long propane gas leak led to the explosion that caused the death of five workers at the ‘Violanta’ biscuit factory in Trikala on Monday, the chief of the National Coordination Operations & Crisis Management Center (ESKEDIK) said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Major general Anastasios Michalopoulos said that of the two the tanks in the forecourt holding 5,000 and 9,000 liters of propane each, ice was found on smaller one, evidence it was in recent use. The two tanks’ pipelines ran below ground to the ground level of the factory, 30 meters away, supplying the ovens.
Specialized inspections with nitrogen revealed a months-long propane leak. This led inspectors to dig nearly 60 cm into the ground, where detectors found an extensive leak and extremely high concentrations of the gas. Part of that leak seeped into the basement, where a spark by electrical and mechanical equipment led to the explosion, Michalopoulos said.
He added that the factory was in full operation, as it runs on a 24-hour basis. During the night of the fire, there were 13 people on the shift, 4 men and 9 women. The Fire Department was notified at 03:56 and arrived at 04:11, with 53 firefighters at the scene, including a drone team, as well as police and ambulances. Four of the five victims were found between 07:55 and 12:00 on Monday, and the fifth one was found on Tuesday, the ESKEDIK chief said.
Given that there had been reports of a strong smell of gas for some time, the authorities are examining whether there were sensors and, in the opposite case, why none were installed, why the reports of a gas smell were not investigated and action taken promptly and whether everything had been done as it should be to ensure safety.
Three arrested factory officials led before prosecutor
Three persons arrested for the explosion that killed five female workers at the Violanta biscuit factory in Trikala, including the factory owner, appeared before a Trikala public prosecutor on Wednesday.
They are still testifying on Wednesday afternoon.
