Greece train crash: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologizes for tragedy

(CNN) Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis He apologized for one of the country’s worst train accidents in years, saying “We cannot, and we will not, hide behind human error.”

A passenger train carrying more than 350 passengers Hit a freight train And Tuesday evening in Tempe, near the city of Larisa, killing at least 57 people and injuring dozens.

Protesters poured into the streets in the aftermath of the fatal accident, amid widespread anger over the country’s railway safety record. Fresh unrest broke out on Sunday, as protesters clashed with police in Athens in scenes expected to be seen across the country.

“This crime should not be covered up, we will be the voice of all the dead,” one of the slogans during Sunday’s protest in Athens was.

Mitsotakis said in a statement that it should not be possible for two trains traveling in opposite directions to “be on the same track and not be noticed.”

“As prime minister, I am indebted to everyone, but above all to the relatives of the victims, a huge apology. Personally and on behalf of everyone who has ruled the country for years,” Mitsotakis said.

The reference to human error indicates a change in the prime minister’s tone. In the aftermath of the collision he blamed “tragic human error”.

Although his latest statement indicated systemic problems in the Greek railway network, he promised announcements in the coming days in order to “immediately improve railway safety”.

On Thursday after the arrest of a train station manager in Larissa in connection with the incident, Greek authorities publicly released transmission recordings revealing that one of the train drivers involved had been instructed to ignore a red light.

Greece has a poor rail passenger safety record compared to other countries in Europe, having the highest rate of deaths on railways per million train kilometers from 2018 to 2020 out of 28 countries on the continent, according to a 2022 report by the European Union Rail Agency. .

The head-on collision sent downed vehicles and burning debris in its wake. Many of those on board were young men returning home from a weekend.

The country’s transport minister resigned in the wake of the tragedy and the railway workers’ union went on strike, accusing the government of neglecting the system.