Greek train tragedy anniversary marked by mass protests

By Eleni Poulios

There were protests and rioting on Friday as thousands of Greeks took to the streets on the second anniversary of Greece’s deadliest-ever train crash.

On February 28, 2023, a passenger train filled with students collided with a freight train near the Tempi gorge in central Greece – 57 people lost their lives that day and many more were injured.

Greece grinds to a halt

People all over Greece demonstrated against the government’s perceived wrongdoing in this matter, with rallies held in 346 cities. 

The nation was at a virtual standstill as businesses closed, doctors, lawyers, teachers and other workers went on strike, and air, rail and sea transport ground to a halt. 

Parts of the protest turned violent. In Athens, a group of hooded civilians threw rocks and petrol bombs at the police, who responded by throwing tear gas and using water cannons. 

Some  arrests were made but by the evening all of this had begun to slowly die down.

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Tragedy caused by human error

Prior to this, on Thursday, an inquiry had concluded that the Tempi tragedy had been caused by human error, issues with staffing as well as poor maintenance. 

It was discovered that after the incident, millions had been paid out to install safety measures along the railway, but due to corruption and bureaucracy, the project has still not been finished.  

Additionally, a report made by Greece’s Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority issued a warning stating that the failings which have been exposed never were addressed. 

Christos Papadimitrou, the chief of the authority, said: “Those children were killed because the train was not safe.”

Government accused of cover-up

Many Greeks have criticized the government, claiming that they have failed to raise an inquiry into political responsibility. 

Others believe that the government is trying to cover something up; days after the tragic accident, orders were given to clear the site, meaning that crucial evidence would disappear. 

Pavlos Marinakis, a government spokesperson denied that there was any cover-up and stated that none of this was backed up by any sort of report. 

Opposition parties are also blaming the current government for covering up evidence and have called for heads to roll.

Small consolation for victims

Next week, parliament is expected to discuss whether to investigate possible political responsibility. 

Polls have found that many people believe this to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest issue that the country has faced. 

Therefore, the government’s decision to debate the matter could lead to the public’s anger to dwindle slightly. 

However, for the people who were directly affected by this horror, this likely could only be a small consolation. 

Maria Karystianous, the head of the Tempi victim’s association said: “For those of us who had children on that train, a part of our soul remained there and will never return.”

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