Protesters demanded that authorities address the circumstances of the train crash, in which 57 people died. According to some estimates, more than 25,000 people took to the streets of the metropolitan metropolis. Similar events took place in other major Greek cities, including Thessaloniki and Patras.
Recall that on the night of March 1 there was a terrible accident involving a passenger train en route from Athens to Thessaloniki and a freight train traveling in the opposite direction. Following the incident, three cars derailed and a fire broke out. Many victims were burned alive. To identify their remains, it was necessary to take DNA samples from relatives of the victims.
The press notes that on that fateful day there were a large number of young students on the train. Students were returning from their home countries to universities after long vacations.
Official authorities said the cause of the disaster was the human factor. The station master was arrested. He faces a heavy prison sentence.
At the same time, the public is convinced that chronic deficiencies in the railway safety system led to the accident. The government was aware of the problems, but for many years did nothing to address them. Citizens are outraged by the current situation and demand an objective investigation.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized to the families of the victims and promised to quickly introduce an electronic train control system, the use of which should increase the safety of train operations.
For the time being, rail traffic in Greece is suspended. The country’s new transport minister, Yorgos Gerapetritis, has assured that train travel will resume at the end of March.
