On the night of Tuesday 28 February 2023, a train carrying 342 passengers and 10 employees from Athens to Thessaloniki in northern Greece has collided head-on with a freight train. The latter was travelling in the opposite direction on the same track.
The provisional death toll is 57, including the conductors of both trains, and there have been dozens of injuries. This is considered one of the most serious railway accidents in the country's history.
The station manager was arrested for negligent homicide and unintentional bodily harm. The 59-year-old man has admitted his mistake and must explain how the two trains were allowed to use the same track. If convicted, the accused could face a life sentence.
In addition to human error, the Greek government also put the blame on the failures of the public railway sector.