PM:09:38:01/03/2023
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SULAIMANI — At least 36 were killed when a passenger train
and a cargo train collied in northern Greece, with the search for survivors
continuing, media reports said Wednesday.
The death toll may rise as the passenger train was carrying
352 onboard, said public broadcaster, ERT.
It said the victims include nine railway employees and
university students returning to school in the northern port city of
Thessaloniki from Larissa and Athens.
Search and rescue teams are working to pull survivors from
the wreckage, it noted, adding that at least two cranes are being used to
remove passenger carriages.
Many ambulances and fire engines are also at the site and
psychologists were sent to the Larissa General Hospital to provide support to
the families of the victims and passengers.
Blood donation campaigns were initiated by the Greek Red
Cross in many municipalities, including the capital city of Athens.
The 59-year-old station master responsible for overseeing
railway traffic in the area has been arrested.
The manager initially denied he made a mistake but later changed
his story.
"I made a mistake and sent the passenger train on the
same line as the commercial one coming from Katerini (direction)," he
said.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Konstantinos
Karamanlis announced his resignation in the aftermath of the deadly collision.
(NRT Digital Media/AA)