Nicosia Hosts Rally in Memory of Greece’s Deadliest Train Disaster

On Sunday, a demonstration took place in Eleftheria Square, Nicosia, in memory of the deadliest train crash in Greece’s history. The tragic event, which occurred in 2023, claimed the lives of 57 people.

Cypriots gathered for the rally, holding signs bearing the names and ages of the 57 victims who lost their lives in the collision between two trains on the rail line connecting Athens and Thessaloniki. Many attendees also carried photos of two Cypriots, Kyprianos Papaioannou and Anastasia Adamidou, who were among the victims, alongside banners demanding a thorough investigation.

During the demonstration, a resolution was passed, declaring that participants had gathered to "honor the memory of the deceased and demand justice."

The train crash took place on February 28, 2023, near the village of Evangelismos in the Tempi municipality. An intercity train traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki collided head-on with a freight train traveling in the opposite direction. Both trains partially derailed, resulting in the deaths of 57 individuals and leaving 85 others injured. This remains the deadliest railway disaster in Greece’s history. Following the tragedy, both Greece and Cyprus declared three days of national mourning.

Nicosia was one of 130 cities worldwide that hosted demonstrations on Sunday. People also rallied in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other Greek cities, as well as in London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Barcelona. Protesters are adamant that the disaster was not a mere accident.

"This was a crime fueled by indifference, irresponsibility, and corruption—a crime that cannot go unpunished," the resolution read.

The document also mentioned that around 30 survivors of the crash were burned alive due to illegal chemicals found on the freight train.

An expert report released last week revealed that the freight train carried 10 tons of flammable aromatic hydrocarbons, and the explosion of this chemical substance caused the deaths of 30 people who had survived the initial impact.