A passenger train in Greece carrying hundreds of people collided
with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in the country’s
north early Wednesday, killing 29 and injuring at least 85,
officials said, Trend reports citing CTV.
Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames
after the collision near Tempe, a small town next to a valley where
major highway and rail tunnels are located, some 380 kilometres
(235 miles) north of Athens.
Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the
windows of the train cars due to the impact. They said others
fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled,
slamming into a field next to the tracks.
Hospital officials in the nearby city of Larissa said at least
25 people had serious injuries.
“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
spokesperson for Greece’s firefighting service.
Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling
pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people.
Others scoured the field with flashlights and checked underneath
the wreckage. Several of the dead are believed to have been found
in the restaurant area near the front of the passenger train.
The possible cause of the collision was not immediately clear.
Two rail officials were being questioned by police but had not been
detained.
Passengers who received minor injuries or were unharmed were
transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 130 kilometres (80 miles) to
the north. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to
track anyone who may be missing.
A teenage survivor who did not give his name told reporters as
he got off one of the buses that just before the crash, he felt a
strong braking and saw sparks and then there was a sudden stop.
“Our carriage didn’t derail, but the ones in front did and were
smashed,” he said, visibly shaken.
He added that the first car caught fire and that he used a bag
to break the window of his car, the fourth, and escape.
Rail operator Hellenic Train said the northbound passenger train
from Athens to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, had
about 350 passengers on board.
In comments to state television, Costas Agorastos, the regional
governor of the Thessaly area, described the collision as “very
powerful” and said it was “a terrible night.”
“The front section of the train was smashed. … We’re getting
cranes to come in and special lifting equipment clear the debris
and lift the rail cars. There’s debris flung all around the crash
site.”
Officials said the army had been contacted to assist.
Hellenic Train, which has added highspeed services in recent
years, is operated by Italy’s FS Group, which runs rail services in
several European countries.
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