02 March 2023 , 02:57
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The Prime Minister of Greece has blamed 'tragic human error' for a head-on train crash which killed 38 people and left at least 85 more injured.
Rescuers searched late into the night on Wednesday for survivors amid the wreckage of two trains that collided near Tempi in northern Greece.
Several people remained missing after first four carriages of the passenger train were derailed, with two "almost completely destroyed" after they caught fire.
A number of young children were among the victims, as well as students returning from Larissa and Athens to Thessaloniki University.
Visiting the accident scene yesterday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the collision of the passenger train and a freight train as "a horrific rail accident without precedent in our country," and pledged that a full independent investigation would follow.
Train derails with fear growing hazardous materials it is carrying will explode
A search for survivors continued on Wednesday, with some of the carriages almost completely destroyed by fire (George Kidonas/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Outlining his efforts to help the injured recover and identify the dead, he added: "I can guarantee one thing: We will find out the causes of this tragedy and we will do all that's in our power so that something like this never happens again"
He said it appeared the crash was "mainly due to a tragic human error" but did not give any further information.
Authorities yesterday arrested the stationmaster - responsible for rail traffic on the line where the accident occurred - at the train's last stop in the city of Larissa.
The stationmaster at the end of the line is due to appear before a prosecutor Thursday to be formally charged (Tzekas Leonidas/Eurokinissi via ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)The man, who has not been named, is now due to appear before a prosecutor Thursday to be formally charged.
Transport minister Kostas Karamanlis has also resigned, saying he had taken the decision "as a basic indication of respect for the memory of the people who died so unfairly."
He said that despite making "every effort" to push for improvements on the country's ageing rail system, it was "impossible to continue as if nothing has happened" following such a tragic incident.
Angry protests took place outside Hellenic Train headquarters in the aftermath (AFP via Getty Images)Tear gas was used by police to disperse protestors outside the offices of operator Hellenic Trains late on Wednesday.
It comes as eight of the 38 dead were rail employees, including two drivers of the freight train and two from the passenger train.
The Greek Railroad Workers Union has now called a one-day strike to protest "chronic neglect" of the railways by successive governments.