Fire in Greek biscuit factory kills three

A fire broke out after an explosion at a biscuit factory near the central Greek city of Trikala on Monday, killing three people and leaving another two missing, the fire brigade said.

Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as some 40 firefighters and 13 trucks tackled the blaze, with flames visible across the roof of the factory.

Factory owner Violanta S.A. said the cause was unclear, according to a statement cited by the Athens News Agency.

Eight of 13 people at the factory managed to escape, while three bodies were recovered and another two people were missing, fire officials told Reuters.

Investigators and disaster response units went to the scene.

Six people including a firefighter were treated at a local hospital, mainly for respiratory problems, but their lives were not at risk, the Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis told ERTnews radio.

"We only care about our people right now. We stand by them and their families and doing everything possible to support them," Violanta said in the statement.