Two trains collided on Tuesday night, in Tempi, with reports of deaths and dozens of injuries.
So far, according to reports, at least 16 people have died and at least 85 have been injured, according to an official release from the fire department.
According to information from SKAI, three girls and one man died of injuries in the general hospital of Larissa, where they were transferred earlier.
According to information from SKAI, five people with minor injuries were taken by car to Caterini General Hospital. Five people with minor injuries were taken to “Jennimatas” hospital and 10 to AHEPA.
Watch what’s happening live at Tempi:
Shortly before midnight on Tuesday (28/2), a collision occurred between a commercial train and a passenger train operating on the Athens-Thessaloniki route outside Tempi and leaving the capital at 19:22.
The passenger train went to Thessaloniki and the commercial train to Larissa. According to his information iefimerida.grAt least four coaches of the commercial train derailed. Immediately some wagons caught fire. The collision took place before the tunnels. There is a possibility of error as both trains are running on the same track.
Check out the exclusive images of iefimerida.gr:
Mitsotakis’ visit to Thessaloniki was postponed
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ trip to Thessaloniki, scheduled for Wednesday (1/3), has been postponed following the train crash tragedy in Tempi.
Large operation to evacuate passengers
Firefighters rescue people from a train near the Evangelismos area of Larissa. 40 firemen and 17 vehicles tried to douse the fire.
At this time, the first two coaches of the passenger train were completely destroyed and an attempt was made to rescue the passengers.
After a fierce collision, they turned into a formless mass. According to reports, the people found unconscious were in the first two coaches of the train.
EKAV, Fire (and EMAK), Police and Army are mobilized from the first moment.
Larissa University Hospital is on call and Larissa General Hospital and Katerinis Hospital are open on an emergency basis.
There were 350 passengers on the train – many feared dead
According to data released by Hellenic Railways, approximately 350 passengers were on board at the time of the collision.
According to reports, when the train started its journey from Athens, there were 430 people in it, about 80 people got off at Larissa and the rest continued the route until the serious collision of the two trains.
The company said in a statement about this tragic accident: Two trains, a freight train departing from Athens to Thessaloniki and an IC 62 train, collided head-on in Evangelismos. 350 passengers were on board. Firefighters and employees of the Hellenic train rushed to the scene, participated in rescue operations and helped the passengers.
Prime Minister’s Continuity Address
Health Minister Thanos Pleuris is visiting hospitals treating the injured, while Transport Secretary General Yannis Gifaras is visiting the scene of the collision.
Christos Stylianidis, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, is at the Civil Protection Operations Center. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has an open line and is constantly updated.
The units of the 1st Army and the Thessaly region are activated and put on alert protocol, which is issued in case of such accidents. Military hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki are on alert for casualties.
According to ERT information, EKAV ambulances from Athens, Tempi, Larissa, Trikala, Karditsa, Volos, Thessaloniki and Lamia went to the scene and took the injured, who will be taken to the University and General Hospital of Larissa.
Critically injured in hospital – many feared dead
Kostas Genitonias, the leader of the train drivers heading to the crash site, spoke of fears that “a million people could have died”.
10 people (among them 3-4 children) have already been transferred to the University Hospital. According to reports, 2-3 people have been seriously injured.
The general hospital also accepts casualties even if it is not on duty. Children go there with their mothers as there is a surgery hospital for children.
Watch the video:
Eyewitnesses have spoken iefimerida.gr They talk about many injured and trapped, which police sources confirmed to iefimerida.gr. 30 EKAV ambulances (17 from Larissa and 13 from Katerini), police and fire brigade have gone to the scene.
Passengers have already been evacuated and a massive operation is underway to evacuate everyone safely.
An empty bus passing through the area picks up several passengers and takes them to Thessaloniki.
The accident happened before Tempi in the “Evangelismos” area near the PAOK fans monument.
According to the OFKATH volunteer rescue team, several people were injured.
“Fire, smoke, panic, we were afraid of an explosion” – the traveler describes to Iphimerida how he was saved
The scenes unfolding at Thempi are dramatic with the collision of two trains, a commercial and a passenger train.
Many were injured and trapped, and at least four wagons caught fire.
The passenger train was traveling on the Athens-Thessaloniki route and the commercial train was heading towards Larissa when the two trains collided. So far, reports say 30 people have been injured, among them 3-4 children.
A 19-year-old passenger, SK, who left Athens by train at 19:22, describes to iefimerida.gr what happened and how he was saved.
“We usually started at 7:22. I was in the fourth carriage. Suddenly, after Larissa, we felt a shock. We all fell down, the windows were broken, some wagons caught fire. There was smoke. We looked for a way out, and when we found it, we ran for fear of an explosion. Let’s start.”
Then they went to a side street along with some others. “Someone pulled us with a rope and we came out. The driver stopped a passing bus and picked up the passers-by. This time we are getting closer to Thessaloniki,” he says.
“I saw many injured and trapped. They were screaming for water and overcoats because they were cold.
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