The lifeless bodies of 38 people were found in the works that started with the extinguishing of the fire that broke out during the accident by the firefighters.
According to the first information, it is estimated that about 20 people are missing in the accident in which dozens of people were injured.
Due to the fire that broke out during the accident, there were difficulties in the search and rescue efforts and in recognizing some of the corpses removed from the wreckage, while the missing families gave samples for DNA testing.
Nikos Sguris, a member of the search and rescue team working in the debris field, explained:
“Both trains were on the same track. They were coming from opposite directions. Both trains had high speed and they collided at this point. The collision was very hard.”
Stating that the reason for the high loss of life in the accident was not only the fire, Sguris said that the materials in the front wagon, which was used as a canteen, were also effective in the fire.
“The materials and oils in the canteen in the front wagon caused the fire, but it was extinguished by the fire department,” Sguris said.
Stating that the search and rescue efforts will continue throughout the night, Sguris said, “We will try to reach the bodies. There is nothing else to do. We are waiting for the instructions of the fire department.”
Search and rescue volunteer Vasilis Illiopulos stated that the work will continue and said, “I think there is no hope for anyone else to come out alive from this wreckage.”
In the accident, some wagons of the passenger train were derailed and a fire broke out in the front wagons.
The passengers who survived the accident were taken by buses to Thessaloniki, Larisa and Katerini.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropulu, Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis, Health Minister Thanos Plevris, the leader of the main opposition Radical Left Alliance (SYRIZA) Aleksis Tsipras and Deputy Defense Minister Nikos Hardalias went to the area where the accident took place and learned about the situation.
The Greek government has declared three days of national mourning after the deadliest train crash in the country’s history.