Alpha News

Owner of 'Violanta' Factory Arrested After Deadly Explosion

Published February 15, 2026, 12:22

The deadly explosion at the 'Violanta' factory was caused by omissions and errors in the gas supply infrastructure, leading to an upgrade of the indictment to a felony and the arrest of the factory owner. According to reports, the explosion was triggered by a spark created when an employee turned on the hot water. Previous warnings about propane leaks had been ignored, as the owner refused to proceed with repair work due to cost. Furthermore, serious deficiencies were found in the pipelines and propane tanks, which were not certified and were in poor condition, with signs of corrosion and perforations. The lack of basic safety measures, such as connecting the gas shut-off valve to a detection system and protecting the pipes, contributed to the tragedy.