Dialogos

Greece: Owner of 'Violanta' Factory to Appear Before Investigator - Security Flaws Revealed

Published February 16, 2026, 09:02
Greece: Owner of 'Violanta' Factory to Appear Before Investigator - Security Flaws Revealed

The owner of the 'Violanta' factory is scheduled to appear before an investigator on Tuesday, as the charges against him and two company officials have been upgraded to manslaughter with possible intent, following the explosion that claimed the lives of five workers. The investigation revealed serious safety flaws, with the smell of propane being reported as early as June but ignored by management. The report includes testimonies from employees, expert reports, and photographic evidence demonstrating negligence. Specifically, the gas shut-off valve was not connected to a detection system, and the pipelines were not regularly inspected as required by law. Furthermore, employees report that no maintenance work was carried out despite warnings about the smell, while management rejected offers to rectify the deficiencies due to cost. The prosecutor's investigation is expanding to include initial permits and studies by engineers, focusing on the specifications for the installation of propane tanks and pipelines.