In a post on Facebook, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that everyone’s thoughts were with the families of the 57 victims who died, as well as with the wounded and those who survived but carried the memory of that night.
“Nothing will ever be the same any more,” he added, speaking of “fatal human errors coupled with chronic shortcomings of the state”.
In office for almost six years, this is the first time since Mitsotakis was elected that he has been in such a difficult political position. He promised to move “more dynamically and quickly” to bring about modern and safe trains.
For Greeks this mass protest was unusual in that it was unrelated to the economy and their personal finances.
Thursday’s inquiry found that millions of euros had been paid out to cover the installation of safety systems along the railway, but that the project remained incomplete due to corruption and bureaucracy.
Relatives of those killed in the crash believe the goods train may have been carrying contraband fuel on behalf of a smuggling ring.
“It is impossible to determine what exactly caused [the fireball], but simulations and expert reports indicate the possible presence of a hitherto unknown fuel,” the report found.
“Serious information went missing because the site of the accident was not sealed,” experts say, increasing public anger and heightening speculation of a cover-up.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis denied there was a cover-up and said the allegation was not backed up by the report.
Further allegations have surfaced suggesting orders were given to clear the crash site and “landfill” it days after the disaster, which meant that evidence disappeared. But Marinakis said the inquiry report concluded that no political directive was give to alter the scene.
As he stood in the midst of Friday’s protest in Syntagma Square, Pavlos Aslanidis spoke about the death of his 26-year-old son Dimitris in the Tempi accident.
“I don’t know how I find the strength to stand,” he told BBC.
“My son gives me the strength. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here today demanding justice.”
