Investigations are continuing for the second day for the circumstances of the accident and the identification of the three workers who were tragically killed by the powerful explosion that occurred on Monday morning in the unit of the explosives production plant in the area of Itea Grevena.
Already, since yesterday at noon, a special team of pyrotechnicians of the Greek Police from Thessaloniki is at the factory, in order to "comb" all areas of the factory and then to investigate in depth the circumstances under which the explosion occurred. Of particular importance is also expected to be the testimony of the 24-year-old guard of the plant who, according to information, at the time of the explosion was in a nearby spot and after he managed to escape and drive his car a few kilometers away, a short time later he was transferred in a state of shock, but in good health, to the hospital of Grevena.
We recall that, according to APE-MPA, the personnel of the Fire Brigade and the Police who investigated the surrounding area of the factory yesterday, at a considerable distance from the site of the explosion, apart from debris, concrete and iron, they found body parts belonging to the three dead people who at that time were working in the production area of the factory.
Grief in Grevena
At the same time, society in Grevena is shocked by the tragic event that resulted in the death of three people. They still cannot believe that, from one moment to the next, three people who went to work in the morning lost their lives in such a horrible way. Besides, until the official announcement of the ELTEK about the death of the three workers, they were holding out hope for a "miracle" that would keep them alive.
The explosion was heard as far as the town of Grevena
As the mayor of Grevena, Giorgos Dastamanis, said in a statement on Monday morning, he received a phone call from a neighbor who thought there was an earthquake and was then informed about the big explosion that was heard as far as the town of Grevena, 25 kilometers away.
Regarding the plant, the mayor said it was built in 2010 and put into operation in 2015, while never before had a problem arisen.
The deputy mayor of the Grevena Regional Unity, Athanasios Folinas, stressed yesterday that the image one finds at the site of the explosion is debris and too many materials of the plant scattered. It is a very bad sight and an unpleasant moment for our region, he said. Indicative of the powerful explosion that occurred is that debris was thrown even a kilometer away from the plant, Folinas said.
explosion
After the explosion, the causes of which are being investigated, searches were immediately launched to locate three workers, but to no avail. They are 46-year-old Charalambos Kikidis from Polimylos Kozani, 33-year-old Zisis Apostolidis from Grevena and 36-year-old Kostas Orfanidis from the village of Dimitra in Grevena.
The sister of 46-year-old Charalambos Kikidis spoke to protothema.gr, before the company's confirmation of the three deaths of the missing persons, about the difficult times she and her mother are experiencing as she has no news about the fate of her brother. "I was there this morning but the police and firefighters wouldn't let me get close enough to look for my brother. We have no news yet, things are very difficult," she told protothema.gr.
The Deputy Mayor of Descati, Grevena, Babis Orphanidis, who is on the side of the parents of his nephew, the missing Kostas Orphanidis, spoke to protothema.gr about the difficult times he and his relatives are experiencing.
"There are three people missing right now and among them is my nephew. A gentleman, a lad who was at work when it happened. Investigations are still ongoing," Orphanides said early yesterday afternoon.
I was telling my brother to be careful I'm a soldier and I knew about explosives
Yannis Orphanides, brother of one of the three missing people, spoke to protothema.gr on Monday. "I am a soldier and I am serving in Evros. Early in the morning my sister called me and informed me that something bad has happened at the factory where my brother works. Shortly after ten o'clock my father called me and told me that my brother is among those they are looking for. Now what happened and how I don't know."
"My brother was 35 years old and had been working in this factory for about 4 years. We often talked about his job and I told him to be careful because because because of the army I knew about explosives. Now what happened and what was or wasn't his fault I don't know. I do know that no one will bring my brother back. I hope that nothing like this will ever happen again and no mother will mourn another child," he further noted.
At the time of the explosion there were four people in the factory
The big explosion occurred at 8:15 am on Monday morning and there were four people in the factory area, the three factory workers and a security guard who was taken to the hospital in shock.
It is alarming that if the explosion had occurred fifteen minutes later there would have been eleven other people in the factory who were on duty at 8:30. The task of finding the three missing workers is difficult as the factory where the explosion occurred has been completely destroyed and there is gunpowder residue on the ground.
For this reason, the police and the fire brigade have closed the entrance to the site of the powerful explosion and the possibility of another explosion has not yet been ruled out.
The company's statement:
"We are in the extremely unfortunate position to confirm the death of three workers, who were at our plant in Grevena, during an accident on the plant's production line," ELTEK said in the statement, adding:
"We would like to express our grief at the loss of our colleagues and express our deepest condolences to their families.
At this moment our thoughts are with the families of the deceased, with whom we have been in contact from the very first moment. Our company will stand by them in every way, both practically and morally.
The exact circumstances of the accident are still under investigation by the competent authorities, with whom our company is cooperating fully."
Source: protothema.gr
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