A common strike and lots of rallies are bringing the country to a halt two decades after a catastrophic train crash in northern Greece to commemorate the anniversary of a drama that has come to symbolize administrative loss.
The 57 people killed in the mass mobilization, led by relatives of the victims ‘ families, was fueled by public outcry against the conservative government’s alleged inaction. Although critics claim that officials should be held responsible for errors in the crash’s aftermath, just rail officials have so far been accused of crimes.
Greece’s worst rail incident occurred on February 28, 2023 in Tempe, where a traveler teach collided head-on with an approaching freight train. Additionally, the fiery accident injured dozens more and revealed shortcomings in the nation’s transit system.
The largest labor union, the common confederation of Greek workers, Yannis Panagopoulos, president, said the complete truth must be made public, and those accountable, no matter how large their position, must be held accountable.
Let us all march on the streets, calling on the overwhelming preponderance of Greeks to protest and demand answers.
Rallies and disruption across the country Airlines and road solutions have been canceled, boats have been halted, and public transportation has been significantly hampered. Private residences and the public sector have also been negatively impacted, with many stores in Athens closing and messages of condolence for the victims ‘ families posted in front windows.
Thousands of people marched on Friday in front of Parliament, and presentations are planned in more than 300 Greek and foreign cities and towns. Activists chanting” You count income. We count life, blared plume horns, and carried anti-government banners and black balloons. Costas Reintzopoulos, a municipal worker in Athens, claimed the road accident had highlighted long-standing requirements for safer operating conditions. Eleven of the victims of the Tempe tragedy were railroad workers. Every morning, there is a need to know the truth about what transpired, and there is a need for better workplace safety procedures. That is a significant cause why this is still relevant, he said. We don’t want to see more of the deceased, who come home from work in the morning and don’t understand if they’ll return.
More than 5, 000 police officials are stationed in the money to control crowds and possible upheaval.
Numerous college students who had just returned from a long week-end did receive memorial services at Catholic churches in Athens.
Their people have urged activists to maintain a focus on memory rather than politics.
An organization representing the people said in a statement that” this day is one of memory, respect, and reflection.” It is dedicated to the victims of injustice, the grieving people, and the fight for justice that is still unsolved.
However, the state of prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has entered a socially precarious position as a result of the protests.
His liberals continue to lead in the polls, but the public’s frustration with the Tempe crisis has swelled support for anti-establishment functions on both the left and right. Opposition leaders are weighing whether to move ahead with a disapproval movements as they struggle to gain popularity. Mitsotakis promised to keep improving road safety, adding:” Every Greek engages in this mourning, united under the popular demand for truth.”
The Tempe crash was caused by human error and structural failures. Mountainous Greece is essentially a country’s railway system, with its main route connecting Athens to Thessaloniki, which is a fact that made it difficult for many to comprehend.
A long-awaited record on the Tempe crash investigation, which was released on Thursday, attributed the head-on incident to human error, outdated infrastructure, and significant structural failures.
Moments of conflict were visible as survivors describing tumbling vehicles, fires, and smashed windows as they hurriedly escaped.
As several bodies were seriously burned or dismembered, it was followed by the agonizing activity of target recovery and recognition. Funeral services were held in a variety of communities throughout Greece, many of which were lively streamed or broadcast life, transforming secret loss into a shared national experience.
Maria Krystianou rushed to the scene of the horror days later as the coach cars were still sluggish in search of her missing girl, Maria-Thomai, who was 21 years old.
After waiting two days, a DNA test suddenly confirmed Maria-Thomai’s death.
Krystianou, a 52-year-old physician, has since taken the lead in the fight to hold politicians accountable for the fall. She publicly thanked the organizations and associations that participated in the demonstrations, including doctors and lawyers from public facilities and courts who will observe a moment’s silence on Friday in courts.
She wrote in an online article,” I wish I could give each of you a warm hug. With extraordinary emotion and pride.”
