Officials said the army had been contacted to assist. Later in the year, a second accident resulted in ten injuries, with two of them ultimately dying. Were working to restore it. "The evacuation process is ongoing and is being carried out under very difficult conditions due to the severity of the collision between the two trains," spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. / CBS/AP. We will help them as much as we can, he said. Five hours later, we are finding bodies.". Police temporarily detained the station master in Larissa and at least three witnesses have been questioned, including a representative for Hellenic Train, a police official said. This year was the first time the festival, which precedes Lent, was celebrated in full since the start of the pandemic in 2020. More than 200 people who were unharmed in the crash or suffered minor injuries were transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 130 kilometresto the north. We share the pain of those who lost loved ones, but we know their pain is so great that comforting words can offer no relief.. I feel so sorry for the parents of these kids.. A volunteer rescue worker told ERT those on the scene were "living through a tragedy". Many of the approximately 350 people aboard the passenger train were students returning from Greeces raucous Carnival, officials said. A passenger train carrying hundreds of people, including many university students coming back from their holidays, collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece, killing at least 36 people and injuring some 85, officials said Wednesday. At least 36 people were killed and dozens injured in a head-on collision between two trains in Greece, local authorities said. "There was panic the fire was immediate, as we were turning over we were being burned, fire was right and left. Derailed carriages, badly damaged with broken windows and thick plumes of smoke, could be seen on the site. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Government officials said the army has been asked to help with the rescue. PASSENGERS SAY TRAIN CRASH WAS LIKE AN EXPLOSION. A man who was trying to ascertain the fate of his daughter, who was on the train, saying he had a harrowing phone conversation with her before she was cut off. Smoke rose from trains as firefighters and rescuers tried to help out the victims after the accident. The collision between a freight train and an oncoming passenger train occurred near Tempe early on Wednesday. Survivors said the impact threw several passengers through the windows of train cars. (AP) The incident took place in Tempe, near the north of Athens. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday morning. Authorities arrested the stationmaster at the trains last stop, in the city of Larissa. Smoke rose from trains as firefighters and rescuers tried to help out the victims after the accident. Rail operator Hellenic Train saidabout 350 people were travelling on the passenger train, which left Athens at about7:30pm local time for the northern city of Thessaloniki. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to visit the scene later in the day. Updated on: March 1, 2023 / 9:20 AM Local media said the train left Athens around 7.30 pm local time on Tuesday. TEMPE, Greece -- A passenger train carrying hundreds of people, including many university students returning home from holiday, collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece, killing 32 and injuring at least 85, officials said Wednesday. (AP) The incident took place in Tempe, near the north of Athens. 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Hospital officials in the nearby city of Larissa said at least 25 people had serious injuries. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "Carriage one and two no longer exist, and the third has derailed," he said. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, fire officials said. "The 59-year-old station master was arrested," AFP quoted a local police spokesperson as saying, adding that charges would be announced later in the day, but providing no information on what those charges might be. This is a terrible tragedy that is hard to comprehend, said Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga. Rail operator Hellenic Train said the northbound passenger train to Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, had about 350 passengers on board. Hellenic Train, which has added high-speed services in recent years, is operated by Italy's FS Group, which runs rail services in several European countries. Karamanlis had pledged to investigate the cause of the incident. Two carriages of train in 'nightmare' crash 'no longer exist' - follow live updates. March 1, 2023 11.14am. A teenage survivor who did not give his name to reporters said that just before the crash he felt a strong braking and saw sparks then there was a sudden stop. A passenger train and a freight train collided in northern Greece, killing at least 32 people and injuring 85 others as plumes of smoke filled the night sky. A derailed passenger train is seen following a collision with a cargo train in the Tempe valley near Larissa, Greece, March 1, 2023. Before dawn, rescuers searched through twisted, smoking wreckage for survivors. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. Broadcaster SKAI showed footage of derailed carriages, thick plumes of smoke, badly damaged broken windows, and debris strewn across the road. There was a fire in the first cars and complete panic. At least 32 people have been killed and 85 others injured in a train collision in central Greece. A teenage survivor who did not give his name to reporters said that just before the crash he felt sudden braking and saw sparks and then there was a sudden stop. All Rights Reserved, Stationmaster arrested in connection to Greece train crash that killed at least 36. Greece's firefighting service said some 66 people were hospitalized, including six in intensive care. Dozens hurt in fiery train crash, derailment in Greece. The stationmaster in the city of Larissa was arrested, Greek police said Wednesday. The cargo train it collided with wastravelling from Thessaloniki to the city ofLarissa. Larissa's chief coroner, Roubini Leondari, said so far 43 bodies had been brought to her for examination, and would require DNA identification as they were largely disfigured. Ive never seen anything like this in my entire life. There were many big pieces of steel, said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. Temperatures reached 1,300 degrees Celsius (2,372 Fahrenheit), which makes it even more difficult to identify the people who were in it, fire service spokesperson Vassilis Varthakoyiannis said. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the collision of the passenger train and a freight train a horrific rail accident without precedent in our country, and pledged a full, independent investigation. Eight rail employees were among those killed in the crash, including the two drivers of the freight train and the two drivers of the passenger train, according to Greek Railroad Workers Union President Yannis Nitsas. We are going to be here all night until we finish;until we find the last person.". The trains crashed just before the Vale of Tempe, a gorge that separates the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. Many were evacuated to Thessaloniki, where one woman ran to embrace her daughter as she disembarked from a bus with other survivors. Some of the victims were university students, Health Minister Athanasios Plevris said in televised remarks outside the hospital. Some of the passenger carriages exploded in flames from the impact. By subscribing, you agree to SBSs terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS. Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the two trains ran into each other at high speed just before midnight Tuesday, near the town of Tempe in northern Greece. Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the windows of the train cars on impact. TEMPE, Greece -- A passenger train carrying hundreds of people, including many university students returning home from holiday, collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in northern Greece, killing 32 and injuring at least 85, officials said Wednesday. A passenger train carrying hundreds of people collided at high speed with an oncoming freight train in central Greece late on Tuesday night, killing 36 peopleand injuring at least 85. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to visit the scene later in the day. We found a hole and from there we managed to get out. For the most part, we are mourning young people. He added that the first car caught fire and that he used a bag to break the window of his car, the fourth, and escape. Credit:AP. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who might be missing. The possible cause of the collision was not immediately clear. One passenger told state broadcaster ERT: "There was fire next to us. Web19th century 1830s. They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field next to the tracks. 1837 Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad collision, Suffolk, Virginia; 3 killed plus dozens injured. Nearly 30 people were killed and 85 people were injured after a freight and passenger train collided with each other in Greece. Passengers speaking to the BBC described hearing a big bang and escaping the fire that engulfed their train immediately after the collision. Hellenic Train, which has added high-speed services in recent years, is operated by Italy's FS Group, which runs rail services in several European countries. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing. Greek Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis has since submitted his resignation over the incident. Many of the passengers were young, said Apostolos Komnos, the head of the intensive care unit at the General Hospital of Larissa. Associated Press reported reported that 350 passengers were on board the passenger train that was heading northbound from Athens to "They were looking around, searching; they didn't know where they were.". Police in the nearby city of Larissa said they had arrested a 59-year-old station master, who has been charged with causing mass deaths through negligence and causing grievous bodily harm through negligence. By midafternoon, Transportation Minister Kostas Karamanlis had resigned. "It was a nightmarish 10 seconds, in the flames. Several of the dead are believed to have been found in the restaurant area near the front of the passenger train. The passenger train was en route from Athens to Thessaloniki with 342 passengers and a crew of 10. At least 32 people have died after a passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also visited the site, pledging to probe the causes of the crash and prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy. "Fortunately we were in the penultimate car and we got out alive. There's debris flung all around the crash site.". Footage showed rescuers wearing head lamps surrounded by thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the carriages to search for trapped people. Fire Service Officials said 32 people were killed and at least 85 were injured. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said she was cutting short a visit to Moldova to return to Greece. Nearly 30 people were killed and 85 people were injured after a freight and passenger train collided with each other in Greece. Rail operator Hellenic Train reported about 350 people had been on the passenger train, which left Athens at 7.22pm (19:22 GMT). A passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train outside Larissa just before midnight. Gogakos said the crash felt like an explosion, and some smoke entered the carriage. At least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured after a head-on collision between a passenger and cargo train in Greece. At least 32 people have been killed and 85 others injured in a train collision in central Greece. "This is an indescribable tragedy," said government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Rail operator Hellenic Train said the northbound passenger train to Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, had about 350 passengers on board. "The trains were completely destroyed, both passenger and freight trains.". Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou broke off an official visit to Moldova to visit the scene, laying flowers beside the wreckage. Smokes were seen from where the accident took place. Opinion: We are in a new cold war. Workers also were seen on live broadcasts moving a body on a stretcher into an ambulance. "They were travelling at great speed and one (driver) didn't know the other was coming," he said. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early on Wednesday, killing multiple people and injuring scores of others. When something so tragic happens, it is not possible to carry on as if nothing happened. COSTAS KANTOURIS and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Associated Press, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The collision between a freight train and an oncoming passenger train occurred near Tempe early on Wednesday. A passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train in northern Greece early Wednesday, killing 16 people and injuring at least 85, fire officials said. 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