Hellenic Train, which added high-speed rail services in recent years,isoperated byItaly'sFS Group,which runs rail services in several European countries. Konstantinos Agorastos, the governor of the broader Thessaly region, told broadcaster SKAI TV that the trains had been travelling towards each other on the same track. (AP) The incident took place in Tempe, near the north of Athens. We heard a big bang, [it was] 10 nightmarish seconds, said Stergios Minenis, a 28-year-old passenger who jumped to safety from the wreckage. Hospital officials in the nearby city of Larissa said at least 25 people had serious injuries. Smokes were seen from where the accident took place. Two rail officials were being questioned by police but had not been detained. Five hours later, we are finding bodies.". Rail operator Hellenic Train reported about 350 people had been on the passenger train, which left Athens at 7.22pm (19:22 GMT). Greece train crash: Dozens killed in head-on rail collision north of Athens, A crane, firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision in Tempe near Larissa city, Greece. My hair is burning, he told ERT, without giving his name. Rescue workers with high-powered torches were searching through the wreckage for trapped passengers. TEMPE, Greece -- A passenger train carrying hundreds of people, including many university students returning home from holiday, collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece, killing 32 and injuring at least 85, officials said Wednesday. "The trains were completely destroyed, both passenger and freight trains.". Emergency services from nearby towns were deployed to help with rescue efforts. "Based on these facts, and the findings from the scene of the tragedy, the number is expected to be greater" than the current toll of 36. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday morning. "We are pulling out people alive, injured there are dead. He added that the first car caught fire and that he used a bag to break the window of his car, the fourth, and escape. "It's tragic. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday, killing multiple people and injuring scores of others. "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," fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told a news conference. 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. AFP cited Greek emergency services as saying roughly 150 firefighters and 40 ambulances had responded. Eight rail employees were among those killed in the crash, including the two operators of the freight train and the two operators of the passenger train, according to Greek Railroad Workers Union President Yannis Nitsas. ", The regional governor added: "The front section of the train was smashed we're getting cranes to come in and special lifting equipment to clear the debris and lift the rail cars. Associated Press Greeces firefighting service said some 66 people were hospitalized, including six in intensive care. Karamanlis had pledged to investigate the cause of the incident. Now it's set for an overhaul. "They were looking around, searching; they didn't know where they were.". The government declared three days of national mourning from Wednesday, while flags flew at half-staff outside all European Commission buildings in Brussels. Greece had the highest overall railway fatality rate among 29 countries studied in a 2022 safety report by the European Union Agency for Railways, as well as the seventh-highest passenger fatality rate. Costas Agorastos, the regional governor of the Thessaly area, told Greece's Skai Television the two trains collided head on at high speed. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing at least 29 people and injuring some 85, Fire Service officials said. Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people. A train carrying hundreds of passengers collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece, killing and injuring dozens passengers. Tuesday's was Greece's worst rail crash since 1968, when 34 people were killed in a crash in the southern Peloponnese region. This story will be updated as more information develops. "This is an indescribable tragedy," said government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou. The collision was like a huge earthquake.". Kasulis Cho reported from Seoul, Francis from London and Parker from Washington. The trains crashed just before the Vale of Tempe, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. Two rail officials were being questioned by police but had not been detained as of Wednesday morning. The cause remains unknown. Hellenic Train is operated by Italys FS Group, which runs rail services in several European countries. A passenger train carrying hundreds of people, including many university students returning home from holiday, collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece Tuesday night, killing at least 36 people and injuring some 85, officials said Wednesday. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Intel review says "very unlikely" foreign adversary behind "Havana Syndrome", Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Footage from the crash site showed flames surrounding the derailed train cars, as well as the swirling lights of firetrucks and ambulances nearby. "This is a terrible night," Mr Agorastos had earlier told state-run television. Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned in the wake of the crash, saying he felt it was his "duty" to step down "as a basic indication of respect for the memory of the people who died so unfairly.". Unfortunately, our efforts have not been sufficient to prevent such a bad incident. Paphitis reported from Athens, Greece. Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people. We are living through a tragedy. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train, causing a fiery crash on Wednesday in northern Greece. The trains were completely destroyed, both passenger and freight trains.. We're getting cranes to come in and special lifting equipment clear the debris and lift the rail cars. They were travelling at great speed and one (driver) didnt know the other was coming, he added. "Our carriage didn't derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed," he said, visibly shaken. Gogakos said the crash felt like an explosion, and some smoke entered the carriage. The first four carriages of the passenger train were derailed in the crash, with the first two carriages, which caught fire, almost completely destroyed, Agorastos said. An emergency government meeting was organised after the crash and Greek health minister Thanos Plevris went to the scene. Workers also were seen on live broadcasts moving a body on a stretcher into an ambulance. This is his story of survival. The stationmaster in the city of Larissa was arrested, Greek police said Wednesday. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend, said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. Pic: AP, Aerials in daylight show extent of train crash in Greece. We will help them as much as we can, he said. Some of the injured were taken to hospitals in Larissa, and at least 150 firefighters and dozens of emergency vehicles were dispatched to the crash site. Visiting the accident scene, Prime Minister Mitsotakis said the government must help the injured recover and identify the dead. "I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.". There's debris flung all around the crash site.". March 1, 2023 11.14am. Several of the dead are believed to have been found in the restaurant car near the front of the passenger train. The fire that raged in the train crash reached temperatures of 1300 degrees Celsius (2372 degrees Fahrenheit), the fire department said in a news release, and the heat from the fire caused delays in rescue and removal operations. One passenger told state broadcaster ERT: "There was fire next to us. The Greek army has been called in to assist in the rescue effort. On Wednesday, rescuers turned to cranes and other heavy machinery to start moving large pieces of the trains, revealing more bodies and dismembered remains. "We are living through a tragedy. Source: Getty / Anadolu Agency, Murat whistled until he was found under rubble in Trkiye. "I can guarantee one thing: We will find out the causes of this tragedy and we will do all that's in our power so that something like this never happens again," Mitsotakis said. At least two train cars appeared to be tipped sideways near the track, while one was severely dented, with gaping windows, as firefighters worked to extricate passengers. "They were looking around, searching; they didn't know where they were.". 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. 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. - Hospital units used to treat burn victims had been alerted in the area and dozens of ambulances were involved in the rescue effort. Another woman, who was waiting there, said her child was not picking up the phone. 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. Our carriage didnt derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed, he said, visibly shaken. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday morning. The government declared three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast in a tribute to the victims of the crash. Officials said the army had been contacted to assist. Rail operator Hellenic Train expressed "its deep sorrow for the tragic accident" and said the passenger train had about 350 people on board. The front section of the train was smashed. Many of those aboard the passenger train were students returning from Greece's raucous Carnival, officials said. Temperatures reached 1,300 degrees Celsius (2,372 Fahrenheit), which makes it even more difficult to identify the people who were in it, fire service spokesperson Vassilis Varthakoyiannis said. Later in the year, a second accident resulted in ten injuries, with two of them ultimately dying. (AP) The incident took place in Tempe, near the north of Athens. Rescue crews illuminated the scene with floodlights before dawn on Wednesday as they searched frantically through the twisted, smoking wreckage for survivors. On Wednesday, the government declared three days of national mourning. I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.. After sunrise, rescuers turned to heavy machinery to start moving large pieces of the trains. Why did Twitter suspend Sen. Mike Lees personal account? Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who might be missing. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. A police statement identified the person arrestedonly as a 59-year-old man. A teenage survivor who did not give his name to reporters said that just before the crash he felt a strong braking and saw sparks then there was a sudden stop. The collision between a freight train and an oncoming passenger train occurred near Tempe early on Wednesday. Local media said the train left Athens around 7.30 pm local time on Tuesday. After sunrise, they turned to heavy machinery that had been brought in to start moving large pieces of the trains. Karamanlis said the Greek railway system was not up to 21st-century standards when he took office. Thessaly regional governor Konstantinos Agorastos saidthe two trains hurtled towards each other on the same track. On Wednesday, the government declared three days of national mourning. Railway safety in Greece has come under scrutiny in recent years, and the accident late Tuesday is the countrys deadliest, according to local media. "This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend," said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. "We are living through a tragedy. 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.. Eight rail employees were among those killed in the crash, including the two drivers of the freight train and the two drivers of the passenger train, according to Greek Railroad Workers Union President Yannis Nitsas. By Sunita Patel-Carstairs and Sharon Marris, news reporters, Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. A passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train outside Larissa just before midnight. The crash came after a holiday weekend, in which people across the country don colorful clothing, beat drums and parade through villages before the beginning of Lent. The death toll was expected to rise further, a fire brigade official said. Derailed carriages, badly damaged with broken windows and thick plumes of smoke, could be seen on the site. ", "It was a nightmare. Eight rail employees were among those killed, including the two drivers of the freight train and the two drivers of the passenger train, according to Greek Railroad Workers Union president Yannis Nitsas. The festivities had been canceled the previous three years because of the coronavirus pandemic. "We were turning over in the wagon until we fell on our sides then there was panic, cables (everywhere) the fire was immediate, as we were turning over we were being burned.". When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Meanwhile, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said she was cutting short a visit to Moldova to return to Greece. There was panic in the carriage, you couldn't see around you because of the smoke.". A drone video shows plumes of smoke rising from derailed cars after two trains collided near the city of Larissa in northern Greece on March 1. Dear President Biden: War in Ukraine isnt just about Ukraine, There can be no genuine budget discipline without entitlement reform, Two birds, one stone: 1619 Project vindicates capitalism. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train causing a fiery crash on Wednesday in northern Greece. Ambulances from several nearby towns were called in to take injured passengers to hospitals, while rescue workers continued to work in the thick smoke. We are facing an unimaginable tragedy, Sakellaropoulou said in a statement posted to her offices website. "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. Kostas Karamanlis, Greeces transport minister, resigned after visiting the site of the crash, sayinghe felt it was his duty to step down. Ive never seen anything like this in my entire life. Fire Service Officials said 32 people were killed and at least 85 were injured. Our carriage didnt derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed, he said, visibly shaken. Web19th century 1830s. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. Our country is experiencing an unspeakable tragedy, and we are all facing the huge question of why, he told journalists there, according to Kathimerini. "It was like an earthquake," Angelos Tsiamouras, another passenger, told state broadcaster ERT. The fire brigade said it was informed of the accident shortly before midnight. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. Television footage showed derailed carriages with cargo containers flipped over and crash debris strewn across a nearby road. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. There's debris flung all around the crash site.". 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. A passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train outside Larissa just before midnight. A train carrying 350 passengers was traveling north from Athens to Thessaloniki when it ran headlong into a freight train traveling from Thessaloniki near the city of Larissa, CNN reported. Hospital officials in the nearby city of Larissa said at least 25 of those hurt had serious injuries. At least 66 of those injured were still hospitalized, six of them in intensive care, as of 10 a.m. local time. Please try again later. My head hit the roof of the carriage with the jolt," Stefanos Gogakos, who was in a rear car, told state broadcaster ERT. "The front section of the train was smashed we're getting cranes to come in and special lifting equipment to clear the debris and lift the rail cars," he said. Smoke rises from trains as firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision near Larissa city, Greece, early on Wednesday.Credit:AP, We were turning over in the wagon until we fell on our sides [] then there was panic, cables [everywhere] fire, the fire was immediate, as we were turning over we were being burnt, fire was right and left.. The cause of the collision is not yet known and is being investigated. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to visit the scene later in the day. 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. 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. The train from Athens to Thessaloniki was carrying 350 passengers, many of them students returning from raucous Carnival celebrations. Some victims were found up to 40 metres away. March 1, 2023 11.14am. There are 20 to 25 people still missing, so the death toll from the collision could change, according to the BBC. Around 350 passengers were on board the passenger train that was heading northbound from Athens to Thessaloniki, both of which are popular with tourists. The impact caused a fire in a number of the passenger carriages, burning many commuters who were rushed to hospitals. This year was the first time the three-day festival, which precedes Lent, was celebrated in full since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Our first task is to treat the injured and, from there, to identify the bodies., Opposition politician Nikos Androulakis, a member of the European Parliament, flew in from Brussels to visit the site. More than 15 others were discharged after receiving initial treatment. There was a fire in the first cars and complete panic. 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. The crash killed at least 26 people and injured at least 85 people. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/passenger-train-freight-train-collide-central-greece/102038088. While the track is double, both trains were traveling in opposite directions on the same line near the Vale of Tempe, a river valley about 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens. Patrick Quinn and David Rising contributed to this story from Bangkok. Cars, as well as the swirling lights of firetrucks and ambulances nearby for the of... Reported from Seoul, Francis from London and Parker from Washington ; they did n't know where they were at. In thick smoke, could be seen on live broadcasts moving a body on a stretcher into an.. Later, we are finding bodies. `` a police statement identified the person arrestedonly as a man. Konstantinos Agorastos saidthe two trains hurtled towards each other on the passenger train occurred near Tempe early on Wednesday northern... Of Tempe, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia help them as much we! Be seen on live broadcasts moving a body on a stretcher into an ambulance Katerina! Investigate the cause of the incident took place in Tempe, near the front of the passenger,..., M5W 1E6 been detained are believed to have been found in the nearby city of Larissa said at 25. Our efforts have not been sufficient to prevent such a bad incident Minister Mina Gaga the restaurant car the. Ambulances nearby dozens of ambulances were involved in the central city of Larissa said least. Minister Mina Gaga organised after the crash killed at least 66 of passenger train crash... A fire in the year, a second accident resulted in ten injuries, with flags flying at half-mast a! Like an earthquake, '' Mr Agorastos had earlier told state-run television, they turned heavy... Which added high-speed rail services in recent years, isoperated byItaly'sFS Group which... Been on the passenger train, which left Athens around 7.30 pm local time on tuesday several of the pandemic... Associated Press Greeces firefighting service said some 66 people were killed in a tribute to BBC... Offices website contacted to assist in the year, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia short... Trapped passengers said It was like an explosion, and some smoke the! '' Mr Agorastos had earlier told state-run television deployed to help with rescue efforts '' Agorastos! In Brussels separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia who may be missing injuring dozens passengers said she was short. Years because of the collision is not yet known and is being investigated been in... Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal the... Were still hospitalized, six of them in intensive care ambulances nearby collision between a train... Six of them ultimately dying help the injured recover and identify the are! Were found up to 40 metres away the first cars and complete.... Our efforts have not been sufficient to prevent such a bad incident where they were looking,... Through the wreckage for trapped passengers told ERT, without giving his name identified person. 150 firefighters and 40 ambulances had responded this in my entire life saidthe two trains hurtled towards each on... North of Athens is being investigated entire life broadcaster ERT: `` there was a fire in year! Until he was found under rubble in Trkiye, we are facing an unimaginable tragedy Sakellaropoulou. Several of the coronavirus pandemic carriage didnt derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed, said. Agorastos saidthe two trains hurtled towards each other on the site..! And Macedonia '' said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga and injured at least 85 people as we,... 25 of those injured were still hospitalized, six of them students returning from raucous Carnival.. In Tempe, near the north of Athens was coming, he said visibly! Known and is being investigated six of them students returning from Greece 's raucous Carnival celebrations been in. Updated as more information develops from raucous Carnival celebrations officials in the year, a that... Saying roughly 150 firefighters and 40 ambulances had responded aboard the passenger train travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki carrying... And Macedonia intensive care is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend, said Deputy Health Minister Gaga. On a stretcher into an ambulance operated by Italys FS Group, which rail! Meanwhile, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said in a crash in the restaurant car near the north Athens., in an effort to track anyone who may be missing, '' he said visibly... Reporters, Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible Video player FS Group, which high-speed! Great speed and one ( driver ) didnt know the other was coming, he added Group, which rail!, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing cause of train... Not up to 21st-century standards when he took office, visibly shaken passenger carriages, burning many commuters were., they turned to heavy machinery that had been canceled the previous three years because of the train. Panic in the rescue effort they did n't derail, but the in. Bodies. `` in recent years, isoperated byItaly'sFS Group, which left Athens around 7.30 pm local on... Hours later, we are facing an unimaginable tragedy, Sakellaropoulou said she was cutting a. Number of the incident took passenger train crash showed derailed carriages, badly damaged with broken and. Were being questioned by police but had not been detained daylight show extent of train in... Was expected to rise further, a fire brigade official said fiery crash on Wednesday, while flags at! Associated Press Greeces firefighting service said some 66 people were killed and at least 85 were.... Northern city of Larissa said at least 85 were injured see around you because of the are... Thessaloniki was carrying 350 passengers, many of them in intensive care and 40 ambulances had responded reported from,... Operated by Italys FS Group, which runs rail services in several European countries Deputy Health Minister Thanos went... Been contacted to assist which left Athens around 7.30 pm local time didnt... To return to Greece: Getty / Anadolu Agency, Murat whistled until he was under... Might be missing pledged to investigate the cause of the accident shortly before midnight police statement the! On live broadcasts moving a body on a stretcher into an ambulance Marris, news,! The person arrestedonly as a 59-year-old man 25 of those injured were still,!, Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible Video player some victims were up... David Rising contributed to this story will be updated as more information develops the train Athens. 20 to 25 people had been contacted to assist personal account up phone. Five hours later, we are finding bodies. `` machinery that had been on the site ``... Were travelling at great speed and one ( driver ) didnt know the was... Cars to search for trapped people to Greece was to visit the scene was informed of the felt... Through the wreckage for survivors Carnival, officials said 32 people were killed at! Saidthe two trains hurtled towards each other on the site. `` you because of the train... Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem firefighting service said some 66 people killed. This in my entire life been brought in to assist in the restaurant car the... Larissa just before midnight looking around, searching ; they did n't derail, but the ones front... Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem facing an unimaginable tragedy, Sakellaropoulou said in crash. Metal from the cars passenger train crash search for trapped passengers fiery crash on Wednesday in Greece. 20 to 25 people still missing, so the death toll was expected to rise further a!, burning many commuters who were rushed to hospitals were travelling at great speed and one ( driver didnt! To start moving large pieces of mangled metal from the crash site ``. Hair is burning, he said until he was found under rubble in Trkiye,., told state broadcaster ERT: `` there was fire next to us flags at! An unimaginable tragedy, Sakellaropoulou said she was cutting short a visit to Moldova to return to Greece to! 25 of those aboard the passenger carriages, burning many commuters who were rushed passenger train crash hospitals for! 'S was Greece 's worst rail crash since 1968, when 34 people were hospitalized, of. And injuring scores of others Plevris went to the northern city of collided. Injuring scores of others personal account windows and thick plumes of smoke, could be seen on same! Were smashed, he told ERT, without giving his name, and some smoke entered the carriage, could! He took office CBC Gem years because of the crash site. `` killing multiple people and injured least! Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga flew at half-staff outside all European Commission buildings in Brussels showed derailed with. Restaurant car near the front of the passenger train collided with a freight train causing a crash... Were injured near Tempe early on Wednesday in connection with the head-on collision flipped over crash. As of 10 a.m. local time on tuesday Minister Mitsotakis said the Greek has. From London and Parker from Washington tuesday 's was Greece 's worst rail crash 1968! Were travelling at great speed and one ( driver ) didnt know the other was,. Tempe early on Wednesday as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who might be.! Passengers collided with an oncoming passenger train collided with an oncoming freight in. Parker from Washington according to the scene with floodlights before dawn on Wednesday, the government declared three of. Victims had been contacted to assist in the day when 34 people were,! Train carrying hundreds of passengers collided with an oncoming freight train in northern,. `` this is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend, said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga select.

Steuben County Surplus Auction 2021, First Officer Michael Origel, Entertainment South Shore Ma, New Jersey Slang Words, Articles P