READ ALSO:https://usweb24.com/head-on-collision-between-two-trains-kills-at-least-32/
The fatal accident sparked concerns about Greece's railway infrastructure's reliability.
According to a 2022 report from the European Union Agency for Railways, Greece has a poor track record for the safety of passengers traveling by train compared to other nations in Europe, recording the highest rate of railroad fatalities per million train kilometers from 2018 to 2020 among 28 countries on the continent.
In announcing his resignation on Wednesday, Greek Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis stated that the country had "made every effort" over the previous three and a half years to improve this reality. However, he added, "It is a fact that we received the Greek railway system in a state that is not up to 21st century standards."
"Unfortunately, we were unable to stop such a terrible catastrophe despite our best efforts. And individually for me as well as for all of us, this is incredibly heavy.
"I resign as minister of transportation and infrastructure. It is what I believe I should do as a minimal expression of respect for the memory of those who passed away so unfairly.
The incident was "primarily" caused by "tragic human mistake," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in a televised address after leaving the crash site.
"Dozens of our fellow citizens lost their lives there, in a horrendous train disaster, unprecedented in our country, most of them young people," he remarked.
He stated that the heads of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) and its subsidiary ERGOSE have also submitted their resignations, praising the honorable decision made by the transport minister to step down.
Mitsotakis spoke with relatives of the deceased and the missing as he was visiting the Larissa hospital where several of the injured are receiving care.
"They questioned me, "Why? And they told me "never again''. They need an honest response, he said.
Greek police told USWEB24 that they had arrested the station manager of a train station in Larissa on Wednesday as part of a preliminary investigation. A 59-year-old man is being held in the city and is expected to appear before the prosecutor, Greek police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou said Wednesday.
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