Marie Kouppi
A train collision near Tempe Valley, Greece, on 28th February 2023 resulted in 57 fatalities, with at least 80 others injured.
At the onset of Greek Orthodox Lent, passengers boarded Hellenic Train’s InterCity 62 (IC62) from Athens to Thessaloniki. The journey was to last approximately six hours until the train crashed head-on with an intermodal freight train at 11:21 pm.
The collision caused the initial four carriages of the passenger train to derail and catch fire.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Passengers reportedly fled through shattered windows or by their own efforts, with some trapped in carriages tilted at at least 45 degrees.
The aftermath required 150 firefighters and 17 vehicles to douse the flames, with 40 ambulances and over 30 police officers aiding in the rescue. Approximately 250 survivors were transported from Tempe to Thessaloniki within the first few hours.
At least 57 people lost their lives and 80 others were injured. Among the injured, 66 were hospitalised, with six in the ICU.
Identification of some victims was challenging due to temperatures inside the first carriage reaching 1,300 °C.
Government Response and Investigations
After the crash at Tempe, Greece’s government convened an emergency meeting.
Transport Minister Kostas Achilleas Karamanlis resigned, citing responsibility for the tragedy and admitting failure to modernise the railway system.
Despite his resignation, an official government statement confirmed his intention to run for the upcoming elections with political party New Democracy. This sparked protests in his electoral precinct.
The government, with the help of the media, conducted a campaign to cover up the crime as a product of “human error,” pointing their finger at the 60-year-old stationmaster.
An investigation into the crash was appointed to the right-wing prosecutor of the Supreme Court Dogiakos, whose son has served for four years as an employee in the office of the current political party.
@maxfostercnn At least 36 people were killed when a passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided with a freight #train in Tempi, central Greece, near the city of Larissa, the Greek Fire Service said. #cnn
Legal and Political Ramifications
After the collision, police interrogated two rail officials. Among them was Vassilis Samaras, the stationmaster, who had only been on the job for five consecutive nights and was on his own during the shift. For the crime, he was detained and charged with causing death and injury through negligence.
The local station’s manager admitted to allowing the train through a red signal, citing malfunctioning points that forced the passenger train onto the wrong track.
It later emerged that the stationmaster had been informed of the freight train on the southbound track 17 minutes before the accident at Tempe, as recorded in a ledger.
The tragedy occurred despite repeated warnings from train drivers’ officials. It coincided with government efforts to outlaw drivers’ strikes for safety concerns and calls for Parliament’s approval of the Rail Accident Investigation Board. Greece had faced legal action over its failure to establish this body as mandated by EU law.
Aftermath and Public Response
On 16th May 2023, relatives of the victims initiated a criminal lawsuit against Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other ministers and officials.
Following the catastrophe, Greece experienced widespread vigils, protests and riots, marking one of its largest protest movements. The slogan “Πάρε με όταν φτάσεις” (“Call me when you arrive”) became widespread.
The Panhellenic Union of Train Personnel launched a strike on 2nd March 2023, protesting working conditions and the outdated rail network. Scuffles ensued in Athens, with police dispersing crowds at Hellenic Train’s headquarters.
On 7th March, students in Thessaloniki locked down many schools, shifting to online classes in protest of the Tempe crime.
The Greek Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY) planned a 24-hour general strike for 8th March 2023.
On 28th February 2024, over 30,000 people marched in Athens. Church bells across Greece rang 57 times to mark one year since the tragedy.
Our flags are lowered at half-mast in front of our headquarters in Brussels following the terrible train accident that claimed so many lives last night near Larissa, Greece.
The whole of Europe is mourning with you. pic.twitter.com/Fq5QeAqnjk
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 1, 2023
No legal action has been taken forward so far and New Democracy was re-elected shortly after the crash.
However, a petition to bypass political immunity by activating the law for ministerial responsibility has accumulated over 1.3 million signatures. This would result in a Parliament committee’s examination of the case and possibly indictment of political persons.
@tamarleviart My shaking voice given a Europe-wide microphone. Safe trains. Please. #EuropeanParliament#euparliament#Greece #Tempitrain τέμπη @vkatsardis
The railway in Tempe remains operational, though it’s not as close to its past faulty state. Completion of construction work is scheduled for 2026.
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Featured image courtesy of European Parliament on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
Marie Kouppi
Marie, the Cypriot Instagram editor of Empoword Journalism✨ Currently a teacher but silently crying about my PhD about ‘British Morals and their Impact on Societal Censorship in Arts!