After the serious train accident in Greece, the search for missing persons continues. The rescue workers count at least 46 dead. While the head of government cited a "tragic human error" as the cause, railway workers complained about the state of the railway network and went on nationwide strike.
After the devastating collision of two trains in Greece, the death toll has risen to at least 46. A spokeswoman for the fire brigade said on Thursday morning that the rescue workers had searched all night but found no survivors. "Time is not on our side," said the spokeswoman. The authorities still assume several missing persons, but did not give an official number.
On the route between the capital Athens and the port city of Thessaloniki, a passenger train with more than 350 people on board and an oncoming freight train collided head-on on Tuesday evening shortly before midnight near the city of Larisa. Two cars were crushed by the force of the collision and a third car caught fire, trapping scores of people in the derailed and locked wrecks.
A few hours after the accident, the station master who was on duty in Larisa at the time of the accident was arrested. He faces involuntary manslaughter charges and faces life imprisonment if convicted. He is due to appear in court for the first time on Thursday and explain why the two trains could be traveling on the same track.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of a "tragic human error" on Wednesday. Government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said the trains had been traveling "several kilometers" on the same track before the accident. Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis also resigned because of the accident. "When something so tragic happens, we cannot carry on as if nothing happened," he said.
At the same time, a heated discussion about the state of the Greek railway network flared up. According to the train drivers' union OSE, the route between Athens and Thessaloniki is in a very bad condition. All signals are controlled manually, said union boss Kostas Genidounias. In an open letter in February, railway employees pointed out that the safety systems for the tracks were incomplete and poorly maintained.
In response to the devastating accident and in protest against the dilapidated railway network, railway workers across the country went on a 24-hour strike. Two of the three metros in Athens were also among the lines on strike, the media reported.
