A tragic train collision in Greece has left at least three people dead and several others injured, according to local authorities. The accident occurred on Tuesday when a passenger train collided with a maintenance vehicle on the tracks near the town of Saronikos, about 40 kilometers west of Athens.
The head-on collision caused significant damage to both vehicles and resulted in a fire that engulfed the maintenance vehicle. Emergency crews rushed to the scene and were able to extinguish the flames, but the three victims were pronounced dead at the site of the accident.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and pledged a thorough investigation into the causes of the collision. “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this tragic accident,” he said in a statement. “We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find out what happened and prevent such accidents from happening again in the future.”
The exact cause of the collision is not yet known, and an investigation is underway. However, preliminary reports suggest that human error may have played a role in the accident. The train driver and the maintenance vehicle operator are among those injured and are being treated at a nearby hospital.
Train travel is a popular mode of transportation in Greece, and the country has an extensive rail network that connects major cities and tourist destinations. However, the rail system has been plagued by safety issues in recent years, including several high-profile accidents.
The latest accident is a stark reminder of the need for increased safety measures and investment in infrastructure to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.