Violence erupted in Athens as hundreds of thousands gathered across Greece to call for justice on the second anniversary of the nation’s deadliest train crash, while striking workers paralyzed air, sea, and rail transportation.
On 28 February 2023, a passenger train carrying students collided with a freight train near the Tempi gorge in central Greece, resulting in the deaths of fifty-seven individuals.
Two years on, an inquiry revealed that the safety issues that led to this disaster remain unresolved. A separate judicial investigation is still pending, and no convictions have occurred, further igniting public outrage.
Nearly 200,000 people participated in a peaceful march in Athens; however, the gathering, which included families and the elderly, had to disperse when hooded individuals began launching firebombs and rockets at police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
“The crowd was extremely crowded, and many were in a panic,” said protester Sofia Yianniri. “We tried to help get families with children to safety.”
Thousands participated in a march in Athens marking two years since the crash
Authorities reported that around 325,000 individuals took part in nationwide demonstrations, which commentators described as unprecedented in scale and “historic.”
In the capital, many attendees had to walk several kilometers to reach the protest due to subway trains being overwhelmed with passengers heading downtown.
Awide range of public services, including schools, shops, and transportation—trains, ferries, as well as most flights—were halted as part of Greece’s largest mobilization in recent memory.
According to the families of the victims, protests and gatherings occurred in over 200 Greek cities and towns, as well as in other European nations and international cities with significant Greek populations, such as New York and Melbourne.
A protester confronts police amid the unrest in Athens
In a rare gesture, justice officials observed a moment of silence and halted activities for an hour to honor the victims.
Several well-known artists participated in a walkout, leading to the closure of theaters and music venues, while numerous shop owners displayed signs on their closed businesses stating “we demand justice.”
Opinion polls suggest that the majority of Greeks believe crucial evidence was concealed after the crash, hindering an investigation that remains incomplete.
More than 40 individuals have faced prosecution, including the local station master responsible for directing the trains, but the trial related to the tragedy is not anticipated before year-end.
The two trains had traveled towards one another on the same track for extended distances without triggering any safety alarms.
In the 2023 crash, fifty-seven lives were lost.
The accident was attributed to equipment failure and human error.
The government has denied allegations from opposition parties suggesting an “organized plan” to protect senior officials from accountability.
“Society is enraged because it has been misled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated this week.
“Many in the opposition aim to incite tension and unrest through misinformation,” he added.
Next week, opposition parties plan to initiate a no-confidence motion against the government, alongside a parliamentary inquiry into whether officials acted too quickly to demolish the disaster site, potentially destroying essential evidence following the collision.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has rejected calls for his resignation, accused critics of attempting to “destabilize” the nation and “trap political life in confusion.”
Mr. Mitsotakis has faced criticism for swiftly attributing the accident to human error just hours after the investigation commenced.
An expert report funded by the victims’ families alleged that the freight train was transporting illegal explosives, which contributed to the tragic death toll.
Yesterday, Greece’s state aviation and railway safety investigation agency noted the “possible presence” of an “unknown fuel” at the accident scene.
The train’s operator, Hellenic Train, has denied any knowledge of illegal cargo.
The Athens prosecutors’ office has summoned the former CEO of Hellenic Train, Maurizio Capotorto, over suspicions of providing “false testimony” to a parliamentary investigative committee last year.
There is widespread skepticism regarding the sudden appearance of camera footage purportedly showing the freight train on the night of the accident, seemingly showing no unusual containers.
According to privacy regulations, surveillance videos are automatically deleted within two weeks of recording.
