Two years after Greece’s deadliest train accident, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Friday, demanding justice for the 57 victims.
The protests, held in dozens of cities, coincided with a nationwide general strike that disrupted flights, maritime transport, and railway services.
Nationwide Anger Over Unresolved Tragedy
As reported by Digi24, the February 28, 2023, crash occurred when a passenger train carrying students collided head-on with a freight train near the Tempi valley.
Investigations revealed that both trains had been traveling on the same track for kilometers, exposing serious safety failures in Greece’s railway system.
Two years later, an independent inquiry has found that safety issues remain unaddressed, while a judicial investigation has yet to result in any convictions.
Protesters accuse the government of negligence and attempting to downplay the tragedy.
Government Under Pressure
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government has faced repeated criticism from victims’ families for not launching a parliamentary inquiry into political responsibility for the crash. While the government denies wrongdoing, opposition parties accuse it of covering up key details.
"Justice has not been served," said Christos Main, a musician attending the Athens rally. "This was not an accident—it was a crime."
Students at the protests chanted, "Send me a message when you arrive," referring to the last texts sent by victims before the collision. Others held banners reading, "Government of criminals."
Calls for Reform Amid Public Outrage
In a Facebook post on Friday, Mitsotakis acknowledged failures in railway safety and pledged to modernize the system.
"That night, we saw the ugliest face of our country in the national mirror," he wrote. "Human errors collided with chronic state deficiencies."
A recent survey by Pulse found that 82% of Greeks consider the train crash one of the country's most important issues, while 66% are dissatisfied with the ongoing investigation. Next week, the Greek parliament is set to debate whether to establish a special committee to examine the government’s potential responsibility.
As the nation mourns, the protests signal that public frustration over the tragedy remains far from resolved.
