– I believe that the responsibility, the negligence and the error were recognized by the director of the station, declares Yiannis Economou, spokesman of the Greek government.

The collision happened on Tuesday evening outside the town of Larissa, about 380 kilometers north of Athens. A passenger train and a freight train collided head-on. At least three carriages caught fire after the huge collision.

The cause of the accident is not known, but the station master of Larissa was arrested. He is charged with negligent homicide and faces life in prison if convicted. The man will be presented for imprisonment on Thursday.

Cleaning takes time

The rail accident is the worst the country has seen since 1972. More than 50 people have been hospitalized.

Rescuers are still searching for remains in the burning rubble. Thursday, they cut the broken panel of one of the cars.

Yiannis Artopios, spokesman for the fire department, says the work is taking time and progressing “inch by inch”.

– We can see more people in there. Unfortunately, it is a very bad Constitution, he told state television.

– I managed to keep my calm

More than 300 people were on board the passenger train, many of them students returning home from holidays or carnival celebrations in Greece. One of them was 20-year-old Andreas Alikaniotis.

He and several comrades survived the crash and fire by smashing windows and throwing their luggage on the ground outside to cushion their fall as they jumped.

– It was a steep fall into a ditch. The light in the train went out and the light of the approaching fire appeared. Sparks flew. I managed to stay calm and was one of the few not seriously injured, Alikaniotis told reporters from his hospital bed in Larissa.

sharp criticism

The Greek Union of Railway Workers staged a 24-hour strike on Thursday following the accident. The strike has caused major delays in Athens’ train and metro service.

Railway workers believe authorities have underfunded the rail network for years and left it in a dangerous state.

The government came under heavy criticism after the accident and the country’s transport minister resigned on Wednesday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the accident an “indescribable tragedy” during his visit to the scene on Wednesday. He promised that the causes of the accident would be investigated.

[ Byhistorie: Skogen som skjuler massegraver fra andre verdenskrig (+) ]