The U.S. Embassy and Consulate, in collaboration with U.S. Mission Greece, has issued a transportation disruption and demonstration alert for U.S. citizens visiting or currently in Greece on Friday, February 28th.
Public transportation strikes and demonstrations will be occurring throughout the day on Friday across Athens and Thessaloniki, and some nationwide, to commemorate the anniversary of the tragic Tempi train disaster, which occurred two years ago on Friday.
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Expect Delays and Cancelations of All Public Transportation Due to Protests and Demonstrations
Numerous strikes and demonstrations are planned throughout Friday and will affect most public transportation. If you’re a U.S. citizen and plan on visiting
Greece
or are currently there, the U.S. Embassy wants you to be fully aware of the strikes taking place that will affect your travel plans:
- Taxis will be on strike from 10:00 to 13:00.
- Airport Air Traffic Controllers will take part in the 24-hour nationwide strike. Due to this strike, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Airlines will cancel and modify all scheduled domestic and international flights.
- Trains will be on a 24-hour strike.
- Ferry and boat employees will be on a 24-hour strike.
The following demonstrations are scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2025:
- In Athens, demonstrations are scheduled in Syntagma Square at 11:00 a.m.
- In Thessaloniki, demonstrations are scheduled at the Venizelos Statue on Egnatia Street at 11:00 a.m.
As with all alerts and warnings, U.S. citizens should be aware of their surroundings at all times; avoid demonstrations; keep a low profile; and exercise caution when in the vicinity of large groups and protests.
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Two Years Later, Family Members Still Demand Answers Into Cause of Deadly Train Crash
The Tempi train disaster, which has been deemed
Greece
‘s worst rail disaster in history, occurred just before midnight on February 28th, 2023, after a freight train and a passenger train collided head-on while traveling on the same track linking Athens with Thessaloniki. A total of 57 people were killed in the deadly train crash.
Greeks and protesters have been demanding answers from authorities after chilling audio information was released revealing the train passengers were not killed instantly in the crash but rather suffered a torturous and horrific death from a fire that broke out after the collision due to an “illegal chemical cargo,” aboard the freight train.
“The tragedy in Tempi was not an accident. It was a crime born of indifference, irresponsibility, and corruption. A crime which must not go unpunished,” a statement from the victims’ families indicated.
Since that tragic day in 2023, hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Athens and Thessaloniki each year demanding justice for those killed in the deadly train collision.
While protests and demonstrations have been peaceful in the past, there have been reports of clashes between police and protesters as well, prompting the alert for U.S. citizens to stay on guard should Friday’s anniversary protests turn volatile.