At least 36 people died and dozens were injured after a passenger train carrying hundreds of people collided head-on with a freight train in northern Greece.
The passenger train traveling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki crashed head-on with the other freight train, just before the Vale of Tempe around midnight, causing the front carriages to burst into flames. The high-speed collision also derailed multiple cars.
Rescue operation
Rescue teams, including the army, used headlamps, flashlights, and cranes started searching for trapped survivors right after the terrible incident, with rescuers searching through the wreckage using high-powered torches amidst thick smoke and flames. Some were scouring the surrounding fields for survivors.
“The evacuation process is ongoing and is being carried out under very difficult conditions due to the severity of the collision between the two trains,” said Vassilis Varthakoyiannis, a spokesman for Greece’s firefighting service.
Regional governor Costas Agorastos stated that the two trains collided head-on at high speed, resulting in the first two carriage cars being completely destroyed and the third derailing.
The train had approximately 350 passengers on board, according to rail operator Hellenic Train, which is operated by Italy’s FS Group. Hospital officials in the nearby city of Larissa reported that at least 25 of the injured suffered serious injuries.
Survivors describe ‘nightmarish seconds’
Survivors described the terrifying scene, with some passengers thrown through windows and others fighting to free themselves from the wreckage.
“We heard a big bang,” a 28-year-old passenger Stergios Minenis, who jumped to safety from the wreckage, told Reuters. “For 10, 15 seconds it was chaos. Tumbling over, fires, cables hanging, broken windows, people screaming, people trapped.”
Another passenger told the BBC: “People were panicking and screaming – some people were afraid they were going to die.”
Some passengers said they were forced to break carriage windows with their bodies or luggage to escape the burning wreckage.
National mourning
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ office announced a three-day national mourning period and shared that the PM is also on his way to the site of the accident. Meanwhile, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, has announced to cut short her visit to Moldova to return to Greece.
Investigation
An investigation has been launched and police say they have arrested a local station master in Larissa. However, the possible cause of the collision still remains unclear. As the investigation continues, authorities are focusing on the recovery of the injured and the support of families affected by the tragedy.
The collision marks a tragic night for Greece, with the scale of destruction and loss of life causing shock and sadness across the country. The accident has raised questions about safety measures and maintenance protocols on Greece’s railways and infrastructure.