Greece in Immediate Need for Oxygen Supply
The Tempi train disaster, Greece's deadliest train accident, occurred on February 28, 2023, claiming the lives of 57 people. Two years later, there is still no trial for the tragedy that left a nation in mourning.
The collision involved a passenger train with over 350 passengers, including many students, and a freight train outside Larissa. The resulting explosion and fire were captured in video reports and eyewitness accounts, leaving an indelible mark on the collective memory.
The independent investigative commission's report pointed to the presence of flammable chemicals in the freight train, specifically xylol and toluene - hydrocarbons used as solvents and carried in the train contrary to safety regulations. Furthermore, the latest autopsy report by the fire service caused outrage, as it ignored the investigation by the State Chemical Laboratory, which found a further 12 hydrocarbon samples in the wrecked trains.
The political handling of the issue remains contentious. Critics accuse the prime minister of downplaying responsibility for structural flaws in the rail network and crisis management. The fact that his party hindered a parliamentary investigation into the disaster and continuously withheld information is, for many, proof that the political elite is not willing to thoroughly investigate the causes.
Investigations revealed systemic deficiencies, including outdated infrastructure, inadequate safety systems, and human error, with a mistake by the stationmaster in directing the trains onto the same track. The tragedy is seen as the result of decades of neglect in the Greek railway network and a symbol of a crumbling state.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other Greek cities on Saturday to demand clarification about the Tempi train disaster. Maria Karystianou, mother of one of the victims and president of the association of victims and their families, spoke movingly at the central rally in Syntagma Square in Athens. She thanked everyone who had come to support the families and demanded justice.
However, the demonstrations were not without incident. At the end of the demonstration in Athens, tear gas was used against protesters. Police operations continued into the night in the left-alternative neighborhood of Exarchia in Athens, with reports of riot police MAT using tear gas and stun grenades in cafes.
Despite these ongoing questions and demonstrations, no relevant information was found in the search results about the members of the independent investigation commission regarding the Tempi train accident uncovering the access of xylene and toluene in freight train operations and the resulting systematic deficiencies.
As the second anniversary of the Tempi train disaster approaches, the families of the victims and the Greek public continue to seek answers and justice for the lives lost. The Tempi disaster affected the whole society, not just the victims' families, and it serves as a stark reminder of the need for improved safety measures and transparency in Greece's railway network.
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