Anger over Greece rail disaster grows as workers strike, protests expected

Photo : AP

Two years after the deadly train crash in northern Greece, a national strike and protests are happening across the country to remember the tragedy. The crash, which took place on February 28, 2023, in Tempe, was caused by a passenger train crashing into a freight train. It was Greece's worst train accident, killing 57 people and injuring many others, most of them students coming back from a long weekend.

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The protests are led by the families of the victims, who are angry that the government has not done enough to take responsibility. People believe that those in charge should face the consequences for the crash, but so far, only railway workers have been charged.

Yannis Panagopoulos, the head of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (the country's largest workers' union), said that the truth must come out and those responsible must be punished. He asked people to come to the streets to show their anger and demand justice.

As a result of the protests, flights have been canceled, trains aren’t running, ferries have stopped, and public transport is mostly shut down across Greece. Many businesses in Athens have closed to show support for the families of the victims.

Protests will take place in over 300 cities and towns, with Athens being the main center of action. More than 5,000 police officers will be there to manage the crowds and avoid violence.

There will also be memorial services at churches in Athens for the victims, many of whom were university students. The families have asked people to focus on remembering those who died and demanding justice, rather than making it a political issue.

The protests have put pressure on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government. Although his party still leads in the polls, anger over the crash has made people support other political parties. Opposition leaders are thinking about calling for a vote of no confidence against the government.

A recent report on the crash blamed human mistakes, old infrastructure, and many system failures for causing the accident. Survivors of the crash said it was terrifying, with broken train cars, fires, and shattered windows. Many of the bodies were badly burned or torn apart, making it hard to identify them. Funerals were held across the country, and many were broadcast on TV, so all of Greece could mourn together.

Maria Karystianou, a pediatrician whose 21-year-old daughter died in the crash, has become a leader in the fight for justice. After a two-day wait, she learned of her daughter's death through a DNA test. Maria thanked the unions, doctors, lawyers, and others who joined the protests. She said online that she was very grateful and wished she could hug everyone who is helping to seek justice.

The crash in Tempe is a symbol of the failure to prevent such a tragedy, and people are still demanding answers and action to make sure something like this never happens again.

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