At least 40 people were killed and 85 injured when two trains collided in central Greece on March 28 (local time), local police and fire authorities said.
According to foreign media such as the Associated Press and the BBC, a passenger train collided head-on with an oncoming freight train just before midnight on the same day near Tempe in central Greece, 380 km north of Athens, the capital of Greece.
As rescue and search operations are underway at the site, the number of casualties is expected to rise further. Greek public broadcaster ERT reported that 50 to 60 people were not confirmed alive or dead.
The train collided head-on at high speed just before the Tempe Valley, the canyon that separates Thessaly from Macedonia. “Cars 1 and 2 no longer exist, car 3 has derailed,” said Thessaly Governor Kostas Agorastos.
About 350 people were on board the passenger train from Athens to Thessaloniki, the railway company said. Passengers with minor or fortunately no injuries were transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 130 km north of the scene. A freight train was going from Thessaloniki to Larissa.
The local police, who launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, arrested the station manager Larissa on charges of negligent manslaughter. Police believe that the Larissa station manager incorrectly instructed the passenger train driver to change the track, causing the two trains to collide while running on the same track.
Transportation Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned after taking responsibility for the train accident.
“In the context of such a tragic accident, it is impossible to conduct business as if nothing had happened. For that reason, I am announcing my resignation from the post of transport minister.”
The Greek government declared a national mourning period for three days until the 3rd, and decided to fly flags in public buildings during the period.
It is known that there are no Korean victims.
Greek authorities said many of the passengers on the train were college students returning from a weekend festival.
Fire officials said dozens of fire engines were dispatched to extinguish the fire. He also said that 40 ambulances were dispatched and about 150 firefighters were on the scene.
Rescuers wearing headlamps are struggling to rescue people in thick smoke. The military was also dispatched for rescue operations.
The fire department explained, “Two trains seriously collided,” and “evacuations are underway under very difficult circumstances.”
A teenage survivor told reporters, “Just before the collision, I felt strong braking, sparks flew, and the train came to a sudden stop.” He explained the tense situation at the time, saying, “The car number 4 we rode did not go off the rails, but the car in front of it was derailed and smashed.
A young man who was evacuated reported the atmosphere, saying, “People inside the train were screaming in fear.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said a rescue worker in an interview with AFP, calling it “tragic.” “We will continue the rescue operation through the night until we find the last person,” said the exhausted rescuer.
European leaders expressed condolences over Greek train wreck.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tweeted: “We mourn with our Greek friends. Our hearts are with the victims and those who love them.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorza Meloni said: “The Italian government extends its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to all injured.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.