Smoke rises from trains as firefighters and rescuers function after a collision close to Larissa metropolis, Greece, early Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The collision between a freight and passenger prepare occurred close to Tempe, some 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens, and resulted within the derailment of a number of prepare automobiles. (AP Picture/Vaggelis Kousioras)

Vaggelis Kousioras/AP

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Vaggelis Kousioras/AP

Smoke rises from trains as firefighters and rescuers function after a collision close to Larissa metropolis, Greece, early Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The collision between a freight and passenger prepare occurred close to Tempe, some 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens, and resulted within the derailment of a number of prepare automobiles. (AP Picture/Vaggelis Kousioras)

Vaggelis Kousioras/AP

TEMPE, Greece — A passenger prepare in Greece carrying a whole bunch of individuals collided with an oncoming freight prepare in a fiery wreck within the nation’s north early Wednesday, killing 29 and injuring not less than 85, officers stated.

A number of automobiles derailed and not less than three burst into flames after the collision close to Tempe, a small city subsequent to a valley the place main freeway and rail tunnels are positioned, some 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens.

Survivors stated a number of passengers have been thrown by means of the home windows of the prepare automobiles because of the impression. They stated others fought to free themselves after the passenger prepare buckled, slamming right into a subject subsequent to the tracks.

Hospital officers within the close by metropolis of Larissa stated not less than 25 folks had critical accidents.

“The evacuation course of is ongoing and is being carried out beneath very troublesome situations because of the severity of the collision between the 2 trains,” stated Vassilis Varthakoyiannis, a spokesperson for Greece’s firefighting service.

Rescuers carrying head lamps labored in thick smoke, pulling items of mangled steel from the automobiles to seek for trapped folks. Others scoured the sector with flashlights and checked beneath the wreckage. A number of of the useless are believed to have been discovered within the restaurant space close to the entrance of the passenger prepare.

The potential reason behind the collision was not instantly clear. Two rail officers have been being questioned by police however had not been detained.

Passengers who obtained minor accidents or have been unhurt have been transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 130 kilometers (80 miles) to the north. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to trace anybody who could also be lacking.

A teenage survivor who didn’t give his identify instructed reporters as he obtained off one of many buses that simply earlier than the crash, he felt a powerful braking and noticed sparks after which there was a sudden cease.

“Our carriage did not derail, however the ones in entrance did and have been smashed,” he stated, visibly shaken.

He added that the primary automotive caught hearth and that he used a bag to interrupt the window of his automotive, the fourth, and escape.

Rail operator Hellenic Prepare stated the northbound passenger prepare from Athens to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest metropolis, had about 350 passengers on board.

In feedback to state tv, Costas Agorastos, the regional governor of the Thessaly space, described the collision as “very highly effective” and stated it was “a horrible night time.”

“The entrance part of the prepare was smashed. … We’re getting cranes to return in and particular lifting gear clear the particles and elevate the rail automobiles. There’s particles flung throughout the crash website.”

Officers stated the military had been contacted to help.

Hellenic Prepare, which has added highspeed providers in recent times, is operated by Italy’s FS Group, which runs rail providers in a number of European international locations.