Greece was on the lookout for solutions because the toll from the lethal practice crash close to Larissa climbed to 42, the fireplace division stated Thursday.
A fireplace division spokeswoman advised AFP that rescue crews had labored all evening in quest of survivors, however probabilities have been dwindling. “Time is not on our side,” she stated.
The accident happened late Tuesday when two trains collided close to a tunnel outdoors Larissa. Two carriages have been crushed and a 3rd caught hearth, trapping folks inside.
Passengers have described scenes of horror and chaos from the crash, many dodging smashed glass and particles because the practice keeled over, and breaking home windows to climb out.
Rescuers on the scene stated they’d by no means handled a catastrophe of this magnitude earlier than.
Many our bodies have been charred past recognition and a few passengers have been being recognized from physique elements.
Several individuals are nonetheless believed to be lacking – together with two Greek Cypriots – although authorities haven’t launched an official estimate.
The station grasp on responsibility on the time of the accident was as a result of seem earlier than a prosecutor on the central metropolis of Larissa later Thursday.
The 59-year-old should clarify how a passenger practice carrying some 350 folks was allowed to run on the identical line as a freight practice for a number of kilometers.
“It was a student train, full of kids…in their 20s,” Costas Bargiotas, a senior orthopedic physician at Larissa General Hospital, advised Skai TV.
“It was truly shocking… the carriages crumpled like paper,” he stated.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – who will search re-election this yr with ballots anticipated in April – stated it was a “terrible train accident without precedent” in Greece, promising that the tragedy could be “fully” investigated.
‘Tragic human error’
Authorities have declared three days of nationwide mourning.
Passengers have described scenes of horror and chaos, dodging smashed glass and particles because the practice keeled over, and compelled to interrupt home windows to climb out.
“It was a nightmare … I’m still shaking,” 22-year-old passenger Angelos advised AFP, including that the collision felt “like a strong earthquake.”
“It was the train of terror,” Pavlos Aslanidis, whose son is among the many lacking together with a good friend, advised reporters.
Rescuers have been compelled to name off the search late on Wednesday to provide exhausted crews and crane operators a respite.
Greece’s transport minister submitted his resignation simply hours after the accident.
“When something so tragic happens, we cannot continue as if nothing had happened,” Kostas Karamanlis stated in a public assertion.
But practice unionists stated the security shortcomings of the Athens-Thessaloniki railway line had been identified for years.
In an open letter final month, practice workers stated observe security programs have been incomplete and poorly maintained.
A security supervisor had resigned final yr, warning that infrastructure upgrades, pending since 2016, have been incomplete and that practice speeds of as much as 200 kilometers (124 miles) an hour have been unsafe.
Five years after Greek rail operator Trainose was offered to Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane and have become Hellenic Train, security programs on the Athens-Thessaloniki line are nonetheless not totally automated.
Students protest
Protests have been held on Wednesday night on the Thessaloniki practice station, town of Larissa and out of doors the Athens places of work of the railway’s Italian-owned working firm, Hellenic Train, the place protesters threw rocks on the constructing and at police.
In Larissa, demonstrators held a silent vigil and introduced white roses to type the phrase Tempe, the identify of the valley the place the accident happened.
Nikos Savva, a medical scholar from Cyprus, advised AFP that the catastrophe was solely a matter of time.
“The rail network looked problematic, with worn down, badly paid staff,” he stated.
The station operator will probably be charged with negligent murder on Thursday and faces a life sentence if convicted.
But Savva stated the person “should not pay the price for a whole ailing system.”
“This is an inadmissible accident. We’ve known this situation for 30 years,” Larissa physician Bargiotas stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
