After the collision of two trains overnight on Tuesday, February 28 in Larissa, Greece, the first reports show 38 dead and many injured.
[Updated March 1, 2023 at 9:20 p.m.] The train accident that left at least 38 dead and 85 injured on the night of February 28 to March 1 in Greece raises many questions. This Wednesday at the end of the afternoon, the Greek Prime Minister confirmed the track hitherto advanced with the condition of a human error at the origin of this accident. Kyriákos Mitsotakis spoke of “a tragic human error”. Several Greek media advance the track of an electronic key which would not have been operated manually. Consequence: the two trains ran towards each other on the same track.
Greek government spokesman Ioannis Oikonomou said priority is given to the treatment of the injured and the search for missing persons at the scene of the tragedy. Psychological support will also be provided to survivors and relatives of victims. Several specialists are on site, according to Greek media.
This is the worst train accident Greece has ever experienced. “If it had happened a minute later, the collision would have been inside the Tempe Tunnel, and then we would have had an explosion and possibly even a tunnel collapse,” Kostas Agorastos added. Larissa traffic has launched an investigation into this accident.
According to the Greek newspaper To Vima, the accident was the result of human error. In the afternoon, at 4:32 p.m., a passenger train was stopped at Palaiofarsalos station, located on the Athens-Thessaloniki route, due to a technical problem with the electric propulsion cable, which was cut and fell on the train . The train that collided a few hours later was therefore diverted as it passed so that it could continue on its way. However, he would not have been put back on the right track by the station master, thus continuing his journey on the lane usually reserved for the opposite direction. The accident could not be avoided. The final report will be known in 48 hours.
The first testimonies collected show some confusion on board the train, shortly before the accident. “We were in car number 2, which is 3rd-4th in a row. At first we were told there would be delays of 20-30 minutes, then an hour. tells us there is confusion in the lines. I hear two train attendants say ‘where is this manager?’ And in a minute…those who were in the first carriages…” a passenger told Makthes newspaper. “The car started to spin and then it ended up on its side and we got out… It was 10 nightmarish seconds, in flames. There was panic in the car, you couldn’t see around you because of the smoke,” added another.
