Fiery Greece train collision kills 29, injures at least 85

Rail accident involving a collision between a cargo and a passenger train in the Evangelismos area of Larissa, Greece on March 1, 2023.

At least 16 people have been reported dead after the rail accident. (Photo by STRINGER / SOOC / SOOC via AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images) TEMPE, Greece (AP) — A passenger train in Greece carrying hundreds of people collided with an oncoming freight train in a fiery wreck in the country’s north early Wednesday, killing 29 and injuring at least 85, officials said.Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the collision near Tempe, a small town next to a valley where major highway and rail tunnels are located, about 235 miles north of Athens.Hospital officials in the nearby city of Larissa said at least 25 people had serious injuries."The evacuation process is ongoing and is being carried out under very difficult conditions due to the severity of the collision between the two trains," said Vassilis Varthakoyiannis, a spokesman for Greece’s firefighting service.Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the windows of the train cars due to the impact.

They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field next to the tracks.Rescuers wearing head lamps worked in thick smoke, pulling pieces of mangled metal from the cars to search for trapped people.

Others scoured the field with flashlights and checked underneath the wreckage.Passengers who received minor injuries or were unharmed were transported by bus to Thessaloniki, 80 miles north.