Athens, (SONNA) – The death toll climbed to 38 from a train crash in northern Greece with at least 15 people still missing, media reports said Wednesday.
At least 72 injured passengers were hospitalized, according to the state-run news agency, AMNA.
Fifty-seven, including six in intensive care units, are under treatment at nearby hospitals, it said.
It noted that 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 with the aid of at least two cranes, which are being used to remove passenger carriages.
Ambulances and fire engines are also on-site and psychologists were sent to the Larissa General Hospital to provide support to the families of the victims and passengers.
Nikos Sguris, one of the rescuers, told Anadolu that there are two major reasons behind the high death toll.
First, both trains were moving at a fast speed, and second, the fire was further fueled by cooking oil stored in the restaurant area.
Another volunteer rescuer, Vasilis Iliopoulos, maintained that it is unlikely anyone will come out alive from the wreckage.
Türkiye offers condolences
Neighboring Türkiye offered condolences, expressing sorrow for the loss of life.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended condolences to Greece for the fatal crash.
“Stating that he is deeply saddened by the train crash, President Erdogan extended his condolences for those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” said a statement by Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, following a message from the Turkish leader to Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said: “We have learned with sorrow that many people lost their lives and were injured last night as a result of a train crash in our neighbor Greece.”
“We extend our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident as well as to the people and government of Greece and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”
Additionally, in a telephone call, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu conveyed his condolences to his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias.
Source: Anadolu
