The United States Government has sent their condolences to Greece over the tragic loss of life in the train collision that happened Tuesday overnight in the town of Tempe.
In a Press Briefing on Wednesday, the States Department Spokesman, Ned Price who behalf of American govt expressed sadness as death toll rises.
At the time of filing this report, over 36 fatalities and 85 injuries are officially reported, making this the deadliest train collision in Greece’s history.
According to him, “We send our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who were lost and our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured.
“That was precisely the message that Secretary Blinken conveyed earlier today to his Greek counterpart when they spoke over the phone”, States Department Spokesman said.
While noted that thehe United States stands with its friend Greece, and commended incredible dedication of first responders who are working tirelessly to save lives and attend to the injured.
At least 43 people were killed and dozens more injured when a freight train and passenger train with more than 350 people aboard collided in Greece. Many of the victims were students in what is the country’s worst rail tragedy in 50 years.
Greek authorities have officially announced at least 38 dead and more than 80 injured from the fatal train collision in Valley of Tempi Greece.
A passenger speed train (Intercity) and a cargo train were involved in the fatal head-on crash near the city of Larissa in Central Greece resulting the loss of many young people returning from the 3days holiday break of Kathari Deftera(Clean Monday).
Furthermore, before dawn the next day, rescuers searched through twisted, smoking wreckage for survivors. What appeared to be the third carriage lay atop the clumped remains of the first two.
While stated that multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the two trains ran into each other at high speed just before midnight Tuesday, near the town of Tempe in northern Greece.
Many of the approximately 350 people aboard the passenger train were students returning from Greece’s raucous Carnival, officials said.
This year was the first time the three-day festival, which precedes Lent, was celebrated in full since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Costas Agorastos, the Regional Governor of the Thessaly area, told Greece’s Skai Television the two trains collided head on at high speed.
Survivors said the impact threw several passengers through the windows of train cars, while others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field near the gorge, about 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens.
The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. Two rail officials were being questioned by police but had not been detained. | via Associated Press