Latest data from Greek authorities put the number of deaths after train accident in the country at 36, the Greek Fire Brigade said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The confirmed death toll at the moment stands at 36, while 66 are injured and being treated, 60 of them in simple units and 6 of them in intensive care units," the statement read.
The statement also said that the efforts of the firemen operating on the spot were focused on the first three carriages of the train, adding that crane vehicles were working in order to create the conditions for full access and inspection inside the carriages.
Officials have indicated that the collision unfolded in northern Greece at about 11:24 p.m. local time, and involved a freight train and a passenger train carrying more than 350 passengers. The accident occurred near Evangelismos, a town in Tempi, which is located about 14 miles (22 kilometers) northeast of the Greek city of Larissa.
The cause of the accident has yet to be determined. According to the website of the Hellenic Train company, both trains had delayed departures. The Athens-Thessaloniki train had a delay of 48 minutes and the Thessaloniki-Athens train was delayed by 70 minutes.
Smoke rises from trains as firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision near Larissa city, Greece, early Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The collision between a freight and passenger train occurred near Tempe, some 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens, and resulted in the derailment of several train cars.
© AP Photo / Vaggelis Kousioras
“In Evangelismos, there was a head-on collision between two trains: a freight train and the IC 62 train which departed from Athens to Thessaloniki,” operator Hellenic Train said in a statement. “Firefighters and Hellenic Train personnel rushed to the scene to take part in rescue operations and provide assistance to travelers.”
At least 17 vehicles were used by local fire authorities to try and extinguish the raging flames caused by the derailment, as well as 150 firefighters, 40 ambulances, and 30 police officers with 15 patrol cars.
Some cars in the crash were completely destroyed or otherwise engulfed in flames, while others appeared to stay intact. Officials have told reporters the fire was brought under control and has since been extinguished during rescue efforts.
"There was panic in the carriage, people were screaming," an eyewitness reportedly said. One report revealed that some of those who were pulled from the wreckage were unconscious, while at least 25 people of the total injured suffered serious injuries such as burns and amputations.
According to Efsyn, the scene at the assisting hospitals in Larissa is a tragedy. Grieving relatives are working to identify their loved one as ambulances continue to bring in the injured and the dead. Rescue efforts at the scene of the accident continue, with the number of those who are trapped under the wreckage remaining unknown.
Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis postponed his trip to Thessaloniki, scheduled as part of the election campaign, the leader's office said.