At least 29 people are dead and 85 injured after a commercial train and a passenger train collided and derailed in Greece on Tuesday. ATHENS A passenger train and a freight train collided late Tuesday in central Greece, killing at least 36 people and leading to the arrest of a station master and the resignation of a government minister. "The 59-year-old station master was arrested," AFP quoted a local police spokesperson as saying, adding that charges would be announced later in the day, but providing no information on what those charges might be. While the cause of Tuesday's collision was not immediately clear, Greece's ageing railway system has long been in need of modernising, with many trains travelling on single tracks and signalling and automatic control systems yet to be installed in many areas. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Smoke rose from trains as firefighters and rescuers tried to help out the victims after the accident. The bodies are being transferred to the hospitals of Larissa in order to begin the process of recognition and identification, the Fire Brigade said in a statement, per ABC News. Officials said many of the passengers on board the Athens to Thessaloniki train had been university students returning home after celebrating Carnival over the long weekend. At least 36 people have been killed and dozens injured after two trains crashed head-on at high speed in Greece. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also visited the site, pledging to probe the causes of the crash and prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy. Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people. Rescue crews illuminated the scene with floodlights before dawn on Wednesday as they searched frantically through the twisted, smoking wreckage for survivors. The crash, which also injured 85 people, occurred shortly before midnight in the Tempe Valley in central Greece, the Hellenic Fire Service said. More than 200 people who were unharmed in the crash or suffered minor injuries were transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 130 kilometresto the north. Authorities set up a hotline for relatives of passengers seeking information on family members. Sixty-six of those injured were hospitalised, six of whom in intensive care, the official said. Others scoured the field with flashlights and checked underneath the wreckage. My head hit the roof of the carriage with the jolt," Stefanos Gogakos, who was in a rear car, told state broadcaster ERT. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, fire officials said. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. COSTAS KANTOURIS and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Associated Press, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ive never seen anything like this in my entire life. Train crash, derailment in Greece injures at least 60 in fires, ruins. "I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.". There were many big pieces of steel, said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. Others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled and slammedinto a field next to the tracks, some being burnt in the process. The passenger train was traveling from the capital, Athens, to Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, when it and the cargo train collided. Paphitis reported from Athens, Greece. TEMPE, Greece (AP) A head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train flattened carriages, killed at least 36 people and injured some 85, Greek officials said Wednesday. Greece's firefighting service said some 66 people were hospitalized, including six in intensive care. "There were many big pieces of steel," said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. Associated Press reported reported that 350 passengers were on board the passenger train that was heading northbound from Athens to At least 29 people are dead and 85 injured after a commercial train and a passenger train collided and derailed in Greece on Tuesday. Larissa's chief coroner, Roubini Leondari, said so far 43 bodies had been brought to her for examination, and would require DNA identification as they were largely disfigured. Greece's federal transport minister said he had submitted his resignation in the wake of the tragedy, calling it "the least he could do to honor the memory of the victims" as he spoke on live television. A derailed passenger train is seen following a collision with a cargo train in the Tempe valley near Larissa, Greece, March 1, 2023. The whole of Europe is mourning with you, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet Wednesday. At least 32 people have died after a passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday. Rescuers turned to heavy machinery to start moving large pieces of wreckage, revealing more bodies and dismembered remains. He said some passengers escaped through windows but that after a few minutes, crew members were able to open the doors and let people out. Costas Agorastos, the regional governor of the Thessaly area, told Greeces Skai Television the two trains collided head on at high speed. Residents of Larissa lined up to donate blood. Several of the dead are believed to have been found in the restaurant car near the front of the passenger train. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou cut short a visit to Moldova and traveled to the crash site, where she laid white flowers among the wreckage, according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. We share the pain of those who lost loved ones, but we know their pain is so great that comforting words can offer no relief.. Hellenic Train is operated by Italys FS Group, which runs rail services in several European countries. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. Rescue effort under way after passenger train carrying 350 people collided with a cargo train near central city of Larissa. First published on February 28, 2023 / 9:00 PM. TEMPE, Greece A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, Fire Service officials said. ", A passenger who escaped from the fifth carriage told Skai TV: "Windows were being smashed and people were screaming One of the windows caved in from the impact of iron from the other train.". FDA panel recommends first RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older, Biden touts plan to raise taxes on the rich, but its unclear he has support in the House, Eli Lilly announces out-of-pocket cap on insulin at $35 a month, Why are eggs so expensive? 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. A 1968 train collision in the ancient coastal city of Corinth killed at least 34 people and injured dozens. We just heard a bang the (train) car started spinning, before ending up sideways when we managed to exit, one passenger told Greek public broadcaster ERT, per CNN. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to visit the scene later in the day. Several of the dead are believed to have been found in the restaurant area near the front of the passenger train. Nearly 30 people were killed and 85 people were injured after a freight and passenger train collided with each other in Greece. A passenger train and a freight train collided in northern Greece, killing at least 32 people and injuring 85 others as plumes of smoke filled the night sky. A passenger train collided with a freight train in Greece just before midnight on Feb. 28, killing 29 and injuring at least 85 people, authorities say. Source: Getty / Anadolu Agency, Murat whistled until he was found under rubble in Trkiye. He said dazed and disoriented people were escaping out of the train's rear cars as he arrived. Associated Press reported reported that 350 passengers were on board the passenger train that was heading northbound from Athens to This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend, said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. Karamanlis said the Greek railway system was not up to 21st-century standards when he took office. On Wednesday, the government declared three days of national mourning. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. Officials said the army had been contacted to assist. They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field near the gorge, about 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens. The collision occurred as the passenger train emerged from a tunnel near the Vale of Tempe, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. At least 36 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a train collision in central Greece. Passenger train from Athens collides head-on with freight train in Greece, killing 36 people. This story will be updated as more information develops. A passenger named Lazos told the newspaper Proto Thema that the experience had been very shocking. Many were evacuated to Thessaloniki, where one woman ran to embrace her daughter as she disembarked from a bus with other survivors. A passenger train and a freight train collided in northern Greece, killing at least 32 people and injuring 85 others as plumes of smoke filled the night sky. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. Updated on: March 1, 2023 / 9:20 AM Most (of the bodies) are young people, she told ERT. Are you on Telegram? "The trains were completely destroyed, both passenger and freight trains.". He said windows shattered, showering riders with glass. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday, killing multiple people and injuring scores of others. Tuesday, February 28, 2023, NEW: Its not polite to pretend boys can be girls, SCOTUS takes on Bidens student debt agenda. A passenger train carrying hundreds of people collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in central Greece late on Tuesday night, killing 36 peopleand injuring at least 85. "They were looking around, searching; they didn't know where they were.". "People, naturally, were scared - very scared," he said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A teenage survivor who did not give his name to reporters said that just before the crash he felt sudden braking and saw sparks and then there was a sudden stop. Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people. One passenger told state broadcaster ERT: "There was fire next to us. The region's governor said the collision was so violent that the first two carriages of the passenger train "no longer exist". Is it more dangerous than the old one? A passenger train carrying hundreds of people, including many university students coming back from their holidays, collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece, killing at least 36 people and injuring some 85, officials said Wednesday. Officials said the army had been contacted to assist. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who might be missing. AFP cited Greek emergency services as saying roughly 150 firefighters and 40 ambulances had responded. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday, killing multiple people and injuring scores of others. Another two people were detained for questioning. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train causing a fiery crash on Wednesday in northern Greece. The crash killed at least 26 people and injured at least 85 people. Now it's set for an overhaul. Agorastos described the collision on state television as "very powerful" and said it was "a terrible night. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. "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," spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. The stationmaster was arrested in Larissa in connection to the crash and two others were brought in for questions, The Associated Press reported. Five hours later, we are finding bodies, an exhausted rescuer said as he emerged from a carriage. They did not release the mans name or the reason for the arrest, but the stationmaster is responsible for rail traffic on that stretch of the tracks. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. ", Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene, said both trains were completely destroyed.. My hair is burning, he told ERT, without giving his name. At least 32 people have been killed and 85 others injured in a train collision in central Greece. The crash occurred as the passenger train emerged from a tunnel. Fire service spokesman Vassilis Varthakoyiannis said the evacuation was being carried out under very difficult conditions. A local TV channel reported that some people were still trapped earlier in the morning. "There were many big pieces of steel," said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. The cause remains unknown. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, - Police said the 59-year-old stationmaster in Larissa was arrested, and a further two people detained for questioning. The head of emergency unit in Larissa hospital Apostolos Komnos said most of the victims were young people, in their 20s. "This is an indescribable tragedy," said government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou. A police statement identified the person arrestedonly as a 59-year-old man. Greek police said the manager of the train station in the central city of Larissa was arrested Wednesday in connection with the head-on collision. Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the collision, which took place just before midnight near the Vale of Tempe, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. According to the Italian company's website, it is the main provider of rail transport for passengers and freight in Greece and runs 342 passenger and commercial routes a day. Five hours later, we are finding bodies.". We are going to be here all night, until we finish, until we find the last person, a volunteer rescue worker told state broadcaster ERT. Many of the passengers were students returning to Thessaloniki from Carnival, but officials said but no detailed passenger list was available. Rescuers are searching wreckage for survivors after 26 people died and at least 85 were injured in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in central Greece. This year was the first time the festival, which precedes Lent, was celebrated in full since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Web19th century 1830s. Fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis said at a briefing Wednesday that the death toll was likely to rise as identifying remains from the first car of the passenger train in particular would be difficult due to the extreme heat of the fire that erupted. Passengers who received minor injuries or were unharmed were transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 80 miles to the north. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train causing a fiery crash on Wednesday in northern Greece. Around 60 had been taken to hospital, with six of them in intensive care. Officials said this included university students returning home after a long holiday weekend marking the beginning of Greek Orthodox lent. March 1, 2023 11.14am. Agorastor told SKAI TV the two trains collided head on the passenger train travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki, and a cargo train from Thessaloniki to Larissa. At least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured after a head-on collision between a passenger and cargo train in Greece. "This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend," said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. A passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train outside Larissa just before midnight. What appeared to be the passenger train's third carriage lay atop the crumpled remains of the first two, where emergency crews were directing their focus. (Video: The Washington Post). Ambulances from several nearby towns were called in to take injured passengers to hospitals, while rescue workers continued to work in the thick smoke. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to visit the scene later in the day. (AP) The incident took place in Tempe, near the north of Athens. Smoke rose from trains as firefighters and rescuers tried to help out the victims after the accident. SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train, causing a fiery crash on Wednesday in northern Greece. By 8:30 a.m., at least a dozen people, including rescue workers in uniform, continued to search through rubble at the base of an overturned blue passenger car that remained in an field, according to Reuters footage. An intercity passenger train collided at high speed with a cargo train outside the city of Larissa. Many of the victims were thought to be university students. The crash killed at least 26 people and injured at least 85 people. An aerial view after a train collision in northern Greece that killed at least 32 people. Meanwhile, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said she was cutting short a visit to Moldova to return to Greece. Search and rescue efforts continue through thick smoke, per AP. Rail operator Hellenic Train said the northbound passenger train to Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, had about 350 passengers on board.