Two years after Greece’s deadliest train crash, hundreds of thousands protested across the country demanding justice and accountability.
A 24-hour general strike halted public services, grounded flights, and closed businesses as people rallied in cities and towns, chanting “murderers” to denounce the perceived government negligence that led to the tragedy.
Fifty-seven people, many of them students, died on February 28, 2023, when a passenger train collided with a freight train near Tempi. The accident has exposed long-standing concerns about the state of Greece’s infrastructure.
The largest protests in years saw clashes erupt in Athens and Thessaloniki. In the capital, riot police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters who threw petrol bombs and attempted to breach barricades outside parliament. Over 80 people were detained and five injured in Athens alone. In Thessaloniki, a massive crowd filled the city center and released black balloons in memory of the victims.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose government won re-election after the 2023 crash, has faced persistent criticism for not launching a parliamentary inquiry into the government’s role. While Mitsotakis pledged to modernize the railway network, a recent state inquiry revealed that the safety deficiencies responsible for the crash remain unaddressed. A judicial investigation is ongoing, and no convictions have been made.
Opposition parties accuse the government of a cover-up and demand its resignation. Parliament is scheduled to debate the formation of a committee to investigate potential political responsibility next week.
Public anger remains high. A recent poll showed that 82% of Greeks consider the train disaster a critical issue, and 66% are dissatisfied with the investigations. Protesters expressed their frustration with the slow pace of justice and the lack of accountability. Families of the victims, holding photos and sharing poignant messages, led the calls for justice, with chants of “Text me when you get there,” a haunting reminder of the final messages exchanged with loved ones lost in the crash.