4 dead, 6 injured and one missing after a cookie factory fire in Greece

Athens.- At least four people died this Monday in a fire that broke out in the 'Violanta' biscuit factory, located on the outskirts of the city of Trikala, in central Greece, while a fifth person remains missing and six others were injured, a spokesman for the Fire Department told EFE.

The fire broke out around 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) today, after a large explosion occurred, for reasons still unclear, which broke windows of towns near the factory, and by midday it was still not fully controlled by firefighters, the source added.

The victims are four women, employees of the factory, whose bodies were found charred in the basement of the building by a special team of firefighters, while the person who remains missing is also another employee, reported the newspaper Efsyn.

Six people - three women and three men - were taken to Trikala hospital with injuries and burns, without their lives being in danger.

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When the fire broke out, the factory was in full operation. "Our thoughts are with the victims' families," said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a meeting of his cabinet in Athens. Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances that triggered the explosion and fire "to clarify responsibilities to those who correspond", added the conservative leader. In images released by the broadcaster Skai, the extent of the damage caused by the fire can be seen, as the factory has been ravaged by the flames, literally cut in two. According to the portal Trikalaola, the flames ravaged a space where there were flammable materials.