Tempe disaster: Lapses in accountability
Testimonies from Greek officials reveal a chaotic and disorganized response in the crucial hours after the deadly train collision in Tempe in central Greece in 2023, highlighting why early investigations stalled.
On March 1, 2023, hours after the crash, local police and fire officials struggled to determine their roles.
The Larissa traffic police chief reportedly contacted fire investigators to clarify responsibilities. However, fire officials insisted the investigation fell under police jurisdiction.
“I stressed that the fire’s cause needed examination, as is standard, even in road accidents,” the police chief stated in testimony.
The fire department’s lead investigator, who had assumed her role just a day earlier, admitted she lacked the experience to oversee the probe.
Upon arrival at the crash site, she remained near her vehicle and did not issue directives.
Two junior firefighters conducted a brief inspection, took photographs, and left by dawn.
Disagreements also surfaced over the site’s preservation. The Larissa police director, now facing charges, claimed he lacked authority, while Greece’s civil protection secretary said key protocols were not activated.
Further testimony suggests officials were pressured to hastily conclude site inspections.
The probe has widened to include long-standing railway safety failures.
Greek and European prosecutors are investigating whether years of neglect and delays in critical infrastructure projects contributed to one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters.
The crash killed at least 57 people, many of whom were students returning after a holiday weekend.
Kathimerini
