site.btaThree Arrested over Deadly Explosion at Biscuit Factory in Trikala

Police in the Greek city of Trikala have arrested the owner, the safety manager and the on-duty technician of a biscuit factory where an explosion and fire early on Monday killed five workers and injured others, the online edition of Kathimerini reported.

According to the report, proceedings have been initiated against the three by the Fire Service on charges of causing death, bodily harm and fire by negligence.

The publication said the investigation involves the Arson Crimes Directorate – a specialized unit of the Greek Fire Service – as well as other experts. Workers who survived the blast have already begun giving testimony. Initial data indicate that a gas leak from pipes running from external tanks to the factory’s production ovens may have caused the explosion.

According to Kathimerini, there is already witness testimony that the smell of gas was noticeable in the production wing before the explosion.

All five victims of the explosion were women.

The tragedy has prompted a strong reaction from trade union organizations over working conditions, despite the fact that a few days earlier, before the explosion, Deputy Labour Minister Kostas Karagounis, quoted by CNN Greece, said that according to official data from Eurostat, Greece ranks fourth among European Union countries with the lowest number of fatal workplace accidents.