Three more officials have been charged over Greece’s worst train accident in which 57 people died.
According to British daily Guardian and others on the 9th (local time), two more railway station masters and one supervisor in Larissa, Thessaly will be judged by the law.
It is known that the two station managers ended their shifts early on the night of the incident, despite a surge in traffic after a long holiday weekend.
The superintendent who was also indicted was responsible for negligent supervision by allowing an inexperienced stationmaster to work at the time of the accident. The station manager, who directly caused the accident with an incorrect track change instruction, was first prosecuted.
All three faced multiple charges, ranging from manslaughter to endangering traffic safety and mass injury. If found guilty, he could face life in prison.
Angry citizens take to the streets every day to condemn the government. Tens of thousands of people protested from Evros in the north to Crete in the south. On the 8th, local police estimated that 60,000 people, including unions and students, took part in the protests in Athens and Thessaloniki alone. Large-scale protests are expected to continue.
Citizens criticize that this tragedy would not have occurred if the state had not neglected the railway system. Some shouted “murderer” at the country. The government also acknowledged that this accident was a ‘man-made disaster’ that was predicted.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Michotakis held his first cabinet meeting after three days of national mourning and promised “absolute transparency” into the investigation.
In a TV commentary on the day, he announced that he would improve the railroad system with an automated safety system within a few months.
Prime Minister Michotakis’ four-year term ends in July. The general elections scheduled for April were postponed to May due to this accident. The Guardian analyzed that the outcome of the general election will vary greatly depending on how to deal with this accident.
This tragedy occurred at 11:20 pm, just before midnight on the 28th of last month. A passenger train bound for Thessaloniki, carrying 350 passengers, collided head-on with an oncoming freight train. Most of the 57 victims were young people, and it was especially sad when it was revealed that more than one-third were university students.
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.