Horrible train accident in Greece: Dozens dead and injured
According to news from the Greek state agency AMNA, a passenger train and a freight train collided in the Tempi region, north of the city of Larisa.
32 people died and 85 people were injured in the accident where some passenger train cars derailed.
It has been announced that the number of people who lost their lives in the accident is increasing with every passing minute.
After the accident, the train passengers were taken to Thessaloniki, Larisa and Katerini by buses.
There were around 350 passengers on the IC 62 train, which was going from Athens to Thessaloniki. Search and rescue efforts continue at the crash site.
It was announced that the first two carriages were completely burned in the accident near Larissa.
The British news agency Reuters also announced that local authorities had made the statement that it was “the deadliest train accident in Greece in recent years”. It was claimed that the explosion was caused by the crash and many passengers were trapped in the flames.
Authorities announced that search and rescue efforts are continuing.
Stergios Minenis, 28, who managed to jump off the train, said: “We heard a huge explosion and 10 nightmare-filled seconds passed. The cart lay on its side and the fire started in an instant. The flame was everywhere,” he said.
Speaking to SKAI television, regional governor Konstantinos Agorastos said: “The first four carriages derailed and the first two were engulfed in flames. The first two wagons were completely destroyed,” he said. While it was claimed that approximately 250 passengers were brought to Thessaloniki by buses, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis said: “The evacuation of passengers continues under very difficult conditions.”
The accident is estimated to be the deadliest train accident in Greek history.
A volunteer who participated in the rescue efforts spoke to state television ERT. The volunteer said: “We are experiencing a tragedy. We take people out alive, we take out the wounded or we take them out dead. We will work until everyone leaves, ”he said.
In 1972, two trains collided outside Larissa in Greece, killing 19 people. (AGENCIES)