Tragedy Strikes Central Greece as 36 People Killed in Train Collision

At least 36 people were killed and dozens injured in a tragic train collision in central Greece on Wednesday. The passenger train and freight train collided head-on near the city of Larissa, about 376 kilometres (235 miles) north of Athens.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the site of the crash and vowed to find out what caused the tragedy. He said his thoughts were “first and foremost with the relatives of the victims” and that he would do “everything in our power to make sure this never happens again.”

Rescuers and firefighters worked through the night to search for survivors and bodies in the flattened, burned-out carriages. Transportation Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned Wednesday, saying it was his “duty” to step down “as a basic indication of respect for the memory of the people who died so unfairly.”

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Local media reported that the passenger train was travelling at a high speed when it collided with the freight train.

The Greek government has declared a three-day period of national mourning in honour of the victims. The government has also set up a fund to support the families of those who were killed or injured in the crash.