In Athens, Greece, central streets turned into battlegrounds as demonstrators clashed with riot police during massive protests marking the second anniversary of a tragic train collision. Protesters, some throwing Molotov cocktails, met police responses of tear gas and stun grenades. The tumult underscored the public’s anger over governmental mishandling perceived in the wake of the catastrophe, which took the lives of 57 victims.
Friday’s protest, notably one of the largest since Greece’s notable debt crisis, was driven chiefly by a public call for accountability from the ruling conservative government. The tragedy occurred on February 28, 2023, when a passenger train tragically collided with a freight train, resulting in significant casualties and highlighting systemic infrastructure failures within the country’s railways.
The demonstrations included a general strike, led by the families of the deceased, demanding complete transparency and justice. Despite calls for holding political figures accountable, only railway officials have faced charges amidst public cries for broader culpability. The crash, marking Greece’s most dire railway disaster, exposed deeply rooted issues within the nation’s transport system.
Greece faced significant disruptions as a result of the protests, with flights and rail services halted, ferries docked, and public transport severely affected. Various businesses in Athens showed solidarity by closing their doors, adding messages of support for the families of victims. Tens of thousands congregated outside Parliament, with demonstrations concurrently scheduled across over 300 locations domestically and internationally. Chants of “You count profits. We count lives,” echoed alongside protesters bearing banners and black balloons.
Costas Reintzopoulos, a municipal worker in Athens, reflected on how the train disaster amplified enduring appeals for safer working conditions, pointing out that railway employees comprised a portion of those who lost their lives. “The need for truth and safer working conditions is urgent,” he noted. “Workers need assurance they will safely return home.”
To maintain order, over 5,000 police officers were assigned to manage the capital’s demonstrations. Memorial services for the victims, many of whom were university students, will occur at Orthodox churches in Athens. Families of the deceased advocated focusing on honoring the victims’ memories, regarding this date as one of reflection and respect. Nevertheless, the demonstrations have politically pressured Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ administration.
Though still leading in polls, the conservative government faces elevated public discontent linked to the Tempe disaster, while anti-establishment parties gain traction. Opposition parties are contemplating a censure motion against the government. Mitsotakis reaffirmed his ongoing efforts to enhance rail safety, stating, “Every Greek mourns collectively, united in the quest for truth.” The investigative report on the collision, released recently, points to human error, outdated infrastructure, and pervasive systemic flaws as root causes of the disaster.
Survivors of the crash recounted harrowing experiences, describing chaos, fires, and shattered windows as they sought escape. The subsequent days involved a difficult identification process for many victims, with the nation participating in shared mourning and remembrance. Among the heartbroken, Maria Krystianou searched frantically for her daughter Maria-Thomai, only to receive confirmation of her passing days later through a DNA match.
Krystianou, channeling her grief into action, has emerged as a poignant advocate for accountability, expressing gratitude to supporters who joined the protests. She emphasized the immeasurable loss felt by those connected to the tragedy, affirming their ongoing quest for justice. “For those of us who had our children and loved ones on that train,” she declared outside parliament, “a part of us remains with them and will never return.”
