Greece practice crash: Families of victims grieve as protests develop over govt’s apathy

Protests continued in Greece over the practice crash that killed 57. Even although the federal government has attributed the crash to human error, however unions stated the incident was inevitable because of the lack of upkeep and defective signalling.

Protesters assault riot cops as clashes happen throughout an indication in entrance of the parliament constructing following the collision of two trains, close to the town of Larissa, in Athens, Greece. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Families and pals, wearing black, clung to one another, in tears, because the coffin of a 34-year-old mom killed in Greece’s deadliest practice crash was lifted up the steps of a church on Friday.

The first recognized funeral after Tuesday night time’s accident, which killed not less than 57, passed off within the northern city of Katerini, as police stated 52 our bodies had thus far been recognized – nearly all from DNA exams because the crash was so violent.

Carriages have been thrown off the tracks, a few of them crushed and engulfed in flames, when a passenger practice and one carrying freight collided on the identical observe at excessive pace in central Greece.

There have been greater than 350 folks on board the passenger practice, lots of them college college students going again to the northern city of Thessaloniki from the capital Athens after a protracted vacation weekend.

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Anger has grown throughout the nation over the crash, which the federal government has attributed to human error however which unions say was inevitable as a consequence of lack of upkeep and defective signalling.

After night protests over the previous two days, some 2,000 college students took to the streets in Athens on Friday, blocking the highway in entrance of parliament for a second of silence.

Clashes broke out with some protesters who threw petrol bombs and set rubbish bins on fireplace. Police responded with volleys of teargas.

Students additionally demonstrated in Larissa, the central metropolis close to the place the crash passed off.

Students held up black balloons. One placard learn: “It was not an accident, it was murder.” The phrase “Murderers” was painted in pink on the road.

“Most of all we feel rage that this could happen in the year 2023, how two trains can collide… when there is so much technology,” stated 21-year-old scholar Aggelos Thomopolous.

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“How do you think I feel? It’s a disgrace,” stated one other scholar, 18-year-old Maria Choremi. “All of Greece is crying from morning until evening while they sit in their offices drinking coffee,” she stated, referring to politicians.

Outside the hospital in Larissa, the place lots of the victims have been taken, the mother and father of a 22-year-old man waited in anguish for affirmation of what had occurred to their son.

“They killed him, that is what happened. They are murderers, all of them,” Panos Routsi stated.

Not lengthy earlier than the crash, his son Denis had advised him he could be late and would name. “I’m still waiting,” Routsi stated.

Denis had travelled to Athens to see pals. His mom, Mirela, confirmed reporters an image on her cellular of her son beaming.

On Friday, 38 passengers have been nonetheless being handled in hospital, seven of them in intensive care.

Railway employees who started a strike on Thursday prolonged their walkout by one other 48-hours on Friday.

‘CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THERE’

In college yards in Athens, college students used their luggage to put in writing the phrases “Call me when you get there,” a phrase that has change into one of many protest slogans.

Protesters additionally wrote the slogan in candles outdoors parliament.

Larissa’s 59-year-old station grasp was arrested and has admitted to some duty, his lawyer stated, whereas stressing he was not the one one in charge.

“The federation has been sounding alarm bells for so many years, but it has never been taken seriously,” the primary railworkers’ union stated, demanding a gathering with the brand new transport minister, appointed after the crash with a mandate to make sure such a tragedy can by no means occur once more.

The union stated it needed a transparent timetable for the implementation of security protocols.

Opposition politicians additionally began to voice criticism.

“Any effort to hide and cover up the truth over the Tempi tragedy is disrespecting the dead and foretelling new tragedies,” stated Popi Tsapanidou, a spokesperson for the leftwing Syriza, Greece’s major opposition get together.

Before the crash, the federal government had stated that an election could be held within the spring, with media citing April 9 because the probably date. Political analysts say that plan may now be pushed again.

Published On:

Mar 4, 2023