Reuters — On Friday, Greece saw massive rallies as hundreds of thousands gathered to mark two years since the country’s deadliest train crash. Workers from various sectors, including air traffic controllers, doctors, and teachers, staged a 24-hour general strike. This grounded flights and disrupted transport services, honoring the victims of the tragedy.
The crash, which occurred on February 28, 2023, involved a passenger train filled with students colliding with a freight train near the Tempi gorge, resulting in 57 fatalities. Despite the passage of two years, investigations have shown that safety issues leading to the disaster remain unaddressed. A separate judicial inquiry is still ongoing, and no one has been held accountable.
Mass protests took place in numerous cities, with many businesses closing their doors and performances canceled. By early morning, Syntagma Square in Athens was filled with tens of thousands of demonstrators who faced police in riot gear. The crowd carried signs calling the government “murderers.” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government has faced heat from families of the victims for not initiating a parliamentary inquiry into the crash.
The government denies any wrongdoing, asserting that it is the judiciary’s responsibility to investigate. The protests highlighted a growing frustration among Greeks, particularly after years of economic hardship from the 2009-2018 debt crisis, which saw many lose their livelihoods and essential public services deteriorate.
One protester, 57-year-old Christos Main, expressed his anger, stating, “This wasn’t an accident; it was murder.” Another demonstrator, Evi, lamented the loss, saying she felt the government was trying to hide the truth. Names of the deceased were spray-painted in front of parliament, and many mourners wore black or carried black balloons as symbols of grief.
In response, Mitsotakis stated his government would prioritize updating the railway system to enhance safety. Reflecting on the night of the crash, he acknowledged “the ugliest face of the country,” pointing to severe human errors and long-standing failures in the state system.
Opposition parties have criticized the government for potentially covering up information, demanding its resignation. A parliamentary debate is scheduled to discuss the creation of a committee that would investigate political responsibility for the disaster. A recent poll revealed that 82% of Greeks view the train crash as a critical national issue, while 66% expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing inquiry.
In the protests, students chanted, “Text me when you get there,” echoing the last messages sent by many victims’ families. Nurse Litsa, 45, voiced the concerns of many parents, “We’re here because we’re parents… tomorrow it might be our children.”
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