HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS PROTEST ACROSS GREECE OVER DEADLY TRAIN CRASH
On February 28, 2025, hundreds of thousands of people across Greece protested to demand justice on the second anniversary of the country’s deadliest train crash, which occurred in 2023 and resulted in the deaths of 57 individuals, primarily students. The tragedy happened when a passenger train collided with a freight train near the Tempi gorge due to unresolved safety issues.
Despite two years passing since the disaster, an inquiry revealed that safety measures remain insufficient and no convictions have been made regarding the accident. In response to this ongoing frustration, a nationwide general strike grounded all flights and halted transportation as workers from various sectors—including air traffic controllers, seafarers, doctors, and teachers—joined in solidarity.
In Athens, tens of thousands gathered at Syntagma Square amidst police presence. Protest signs proclaimed “Government of murderers,” reflecting widespread anger toward Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government. Family members of victims criticized officials for failing to launch a parliamentary inquiry into political accountability.
Protesters voiced their feelings about the lack of justice and transparency. One musician expressed that what happened was not merely an accident but an act of negligence or “murder.” Many demonstrators wore black or carried black balloons as symbols of mourning.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledged the tragedy in a Facebook post, stating his commitment to modernizing Greece's railway system while recognizing the human errors that contributed to the disaster. Meanwhile, opposition parties accused his administration of obscuring facts and called for its resignation.
As public sentiment grows against the government’s handling of the incident—with recent polls indicating that 82% of Greeks consider it one of the most critical issues facing the nation—parliament is set to discuss forming a committee to investigate potential political responsibilities surrounding the crash. The protests exemplified deep-seated mistrust towards governmental institutions stemming from past economic crises and inadequate public services.