Authorities arrested the stationmaster at the trains last stop, in the city of Larissa. "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," spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. 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 possible cause of the collision was not immediately clear. Smoke rose from trains as firefighters and rescuers tried to help out the victims after the accident. "I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.". 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.. Rescuers are searching through flattened, burned-out carriages for survivors and bodies after a passenger train and a freight train crashed head-on in central Greece. This year was the first time the festival, which precedes Lent, was celebrated in full since the start of the pandemic in 2020. The government declared three days of national mourning from Wednesday, while flags flew at half-staff outside all European Commission buildings in Brussels. Workers also were seen on live broadcasts moving a body on a stretcher into an ambulance. The cause remains unknown. At least 32 people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured after two trains collided in Greece. Web19th century 1830s. He said dazed and disoriented people were escaping out of the trains rear cars as he arrived. Nigerias Tinubu wins presidential election; opposition cries foul, Greece train collision kills at least 36; station master arrested, Ukraine live briefing: Ukraine marks first day of spring as battle for Bakhmut intensifies. Rescuers are searching wreckage for survivors after 26 people died and at least 85 were injured in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in central Greece. Some victims were found up to 40 metres away. Survivors said some passengers were thrown from the train car windows on impact. Greek government spokesman Yiannis Economou said earlier that the two trains had been running in opposite directions on the same track for "several kilometers.". Visiting the crash scene, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the government must help the injured recover and identify the dead. Rescuer Lazaros Sarianidis told ERT that crews were very carefully trying to disentangle steel, sheet metal and other material that was twisted together by the crash. They are in very bad condition. Rescuers are searching wreckage for survivors after 26 people died and at least 85 were injured in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in central Greece. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Karamanlis said the Greek railway system was not up to 21st-century standards when he took office. Emergency workers found several bodies dozens of meters (feet) away from the cars, ERT reported. "They were looking around, searching; they didn't know where they were. "I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.". 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. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, fire officials said. By Sunita Patel-Carstairs and Sharon Marris, news reporters, Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. A passenger train carrying hundreds of people collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in central Greece late on Tuesday night, killing 36 peopleand injuring at least 85. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. 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. The collision between a freight train and an oncoming passenger train occurred near Tempe early on Wednesday. My head hit the roof of the carriage with the jolt," Stefanos Gogakos, who was in a rear car, told state broadcaster ERT. Many of the passengers would have been returning home after a long holiday weekend marking the beginning of Greek Orthodox lent. "It's tragic. 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. Ive never seen anything like this in my entire life. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Two rail officials were being questioned by police but had not been detained as of Wednesday morning. "This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend," said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. We're getting cranes to come in and special lifting equipment clear the debris and lift the rail cars. About 250 passengers who received minor injuries or were unharmed weretaken safely to Thessaloniki on busesearly on Wednesday morning. The Greek army has been called in to assist in the rescue effort. Rescuers in Larissa, Greece are searching for survivors in the twisted remains of a passenger train and freight train that collided at high speed shortly before midnight. When something so tragic happens, it is not possible to carry on as if nothing happened. In these 3.5 years, we have made every effort to improve this reality, he said as he announced his resignation. Sources: Hellenic Fire Service, Geodata.gov.gr. Rail operator Hellenic Train said the northbound passenger train from Athens to Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, had about 350 passengers on board. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I wasnt hurt but I was stained with blood from other people who were hurt near me, he said. They were travelling at great speed and one (driver) didnt know the other was coming, he added. Emergency services from nearby towns were deployed to help with rescue efforts. "We're getting cranes to come in and special lifting equipment clear the debris and lift the rail cars. ", A passenger who escaped from the fifth carriage told Skai TV: "Windows were being smashed and people were screaming One of the windows caved in from the impact of iron from the other train.". First and foremost, our thoughts today are with the relatives of the victims. (AP) The incident took place in Tempe, near the north of Athens. Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the two trains ran into each other at high speed just before midnight Tuesday, near the town of Tempe in northern Greece. One survivor said there was panic among passengers, and fires that burned 'right and left. This is called political responsibility.. "There were many big pieces of steel," said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. Others scoured the field with flashlights and checked underneath the wreckage. Wed Mar 1 2023 - 06:16. Derek Gatopoulos in Athens and Patrick Quinn and David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this story. At least 29 people are dead and 85 injured after a commercial train and a passenger train collided and derailed in Greece on Tuesday. The collision between a freight train and an oncoming passenger train occurred near Tempe early on Wednesday. Train crash, derailment in Greece injures at least 60 in fires, ruins. Kasulis Cho reported from Seoul, Francis from London and Parker from Washington. Several of the dead are believed to have been found in the restaurant car near the front of the passenger train. Please enter valid email address to continue. Greek authorities said they had started identifying victims but did not yet know the exact toll, with at least 194 surviving passengers transferred to Thessaloniki by bus. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. "They were travelling at great speed and one (driver) didn't know the other was coming," he said. Several of the dead are believed to have been found in the restaurant area near the front of the passenger train. The fire brigade said it was informed of the accident shortly before midnight. Two rail officials were being questioned by police but had not been detained. 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. After sunrise, rescuers turned to heavy machinery to start moving large pieces of the trains. A passenger named Lazos told the newspaper Proto Thema that the experience had been very shocking. This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend, said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. 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. At least 32 people have been killed and 85 others injured in a train collision in central Greece. Many of the passengers were young, said Apostolos Komnos, the head of the intensive care unit at the General Hospital of Larissa. Broadcaster SKAI showed footage of derailed carriages, thick plumes of smoke, badly damaged broken windows, and debris strewn across the road. Unfortunately, I have to interrupt my visit in order to be close to my people, to support those who need it, she told a joint news conference in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, alongside Moldovan President Maia Sandu. Passenger train from Athens collides head-on with freight train in Greece, killing 36 people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Government officials said the army has been asked to help with the rescue. Carriage one and two no longer exist, and the third has derailed, he said. "This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend," said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. The U.S. Embassy in Athens said it was not aware of any American victims, adding that it was deeply saddened by the news of the tragic train collision this morning. Condolences poured in from world leaders, and European Union flags in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels were lowered to half-staff. Web19th century 1830s. Smoke rises from trains as firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision near Tempe, in northern Greece, early on March 1, 2023. A passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train outside Larissa just before midnight. He said some passengers escaped through windows but that after a few minutes, crew members were able to open the doors and let people out. Now it's set for an overhaul. Visiting the accident scene, Prime Minister Mitsotakis said the government must help the injured recover and identify the dead. A passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train outside Larissa just before midnight. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Most (of the bodies) are young people, she told ERT. Greece's firefighting service said some 66 people were hospitalized, including six in intensive care. The trains crashed just before the Vale of Tempe, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. "People, naturally, were scared - very scared," he said. The pontiff sends the assurance of his prayers to everyone affected by this tragedy, the message said. Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people. Before dawn, rescuers searched through twisted, smoking wreckage for survivors. Costas Agorastos, the regional governor of the Thessaly area, told Greeces Skai Television the two trains collided head on at high speed. On Wednesday, the government declared three days of national mourning. The evacuation of victims was carried out under very difficult conditions due to the severity of the collision between the two trains, said Vassilis Varthakoyiannis, a spokesman for Greeces firefighting service. / CBS/AP. "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. Thessaloniki has a large student population. Train crash, derailment in Greece injures at least 60 in fires, ruins. There's debris flung all around the crash site.". Police temporarily detained the station master in Larissa and at least three witnesses have been questioned, including a representative for Hellenic Train, a police official said. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Marie has been charged with reprehensible crimes. There was panic in the carriage, you couldn't see around you because of the smoke.". Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. At least 32 people have died after a passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday. Our carriage didnt derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed, he said, visibly shaken. It was like an earthquake, Angelos Tsiamouras, another passenger, told ERT. Others scoured the field with flashlights and checked underneath the wreckage. Dozens hurt in fiery train crash, derailment in Greece. Rail operator Hellenic Train said the northbound passenger train to Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, had about 350 passengers on board. "There was panic the fire was immediate, as we were turning over we were being burned, fire was right and left. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis office announced a three-day national mourning period. Were working to restore it. I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field near the gorge, about 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens. Its very difficult what we are going through today as a country, he told reporters. The festivities had been canceled the previous three years because of the coronavirus pandemic. A passenger train and a freight train collided in northern Greece, killing at least 32 people and injuring 85 others as plumes of smoke filled the night sky. 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. Were getting cranes to come in and special lifting equipment clear the debris and lift the rail cars. "It's hard to describe the scene. The train from Athens to Thessaloniki was carrying 350 passengers, many of them students returning from raucous Carnival celebrations. Later in the year, a second accident resulted in ten injuries, with two of them ultimately dying. Associated Press reported reported that 350 passengers were on board the passenger train that was heading northbound from Athens to On Wednesday, the government declared three days of national mourning. 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. The trains were completely destroyed, both passenger and freight trains.. Rail operator Hellenic Train reported about 350 people had been on the passenger train, which left Athens at 7.22pm (19:22 GMT). 1833 Hightstown rail accident, Hightstown, New Jersey; 2 killed plus 15 injured.Earliest recorded train accident involving the death of passengers. Authorities set up a hotline for relatives of passengers seeking information on family members. The cargo train had been travelling from Thessaloniki to Larissa. 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. Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the windows of the train cars on impact. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, fire officials said. Credit:AP. 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. She told me were on fire. We are talking about an unspeakable tragedy. Television footage showed derailed carriages with cargo containers flipped over and crash debris strewn across a nearby road. Costas Agorastos, the regional governor of the Thessaly area, told Greece's Skai Television the two trains collided head on at high speed. Why, with todays technology that has existed for many years, should so many lives hang on a human hand?. Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the windows of the train cars due to the impact. He said 40 passengers had been taken to hospital with injuries, while about 250 were evacuated to Thessaloniki on buses. Fire Service Officials said 32 people were killed and at least 85 were injured. 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. A volunteer rescue worker told ERT those on the scene were "living through a tragedy". At least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured after a head-on collision between a passenger and cargo train in Greece. They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field near a gorge about 235 miles north of Athens. Footage showed rescuers wearing head lamps surrounded by thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the carriages to search for trapped people. They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field next to the tracks. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. Officials said the army had been contacted to assist. Train crash, derailment in Greece injures at least 60 in fires, ruins. They were looking around, searching; they didnt know where they were.. 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 burned, fire was right and left.. Later in the year, a second accident resulted in ten injuries, with two of them ultimately dying. The passenger train was traveling from the capital, Athens, to Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, when it and the cargo train collided. Survivors said the impact threw several passengers through the windows of train cars. Fire Service Officials said 32 people were killed and at least 85 were injured. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to visit the scene later in the day. Our carriage didnt derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed, he said, visibly shaken. FDA panel recommends first RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older, Biden touts plan to raise taxes on the rich, but its unclear he has support in the House, Eli Lilly announces out-of-pocket cap on insulin at $35 a month, Why are eggs so expensive? A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, fire officials said. 1837 Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad collision, Suffolk, Virginia; 3 killed plus dozens injured. 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