Passenger Train Crash in Greece Leaves Many Dead, Injured
2023-03-02
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1At least 36 people died and many others were hurt when two trains crashed into each other late Tuesday in northern Greece.
2One train was carrying people and the other was moving goods.
3Many of those who died were young people in their 20s.
4The accident took place near the Vale of Tempe, about 380 kilometers north of Athens.
5Investigators are working to find the cause of the crash.
6Greek police said they arrested the stationmaster in the nearby city of Larissa.
7State broadcaster ERT said the trains were traveling at speeds of more than 140 kilometers per hour when they ran into each other.
8Survivors said the crash threw passengers through windows.
9Some bodies were found 40 meters from the crash site.
10Stefanos Gogakos was sitting near the back of the passenger train.
11He said it felt like an explosion.
12He could see a fire at the front of the train. He was covered in glass, he said.
13"My head hit the roof," he said.
14"Some people started to climb out through the windows because there was smoke in the carriage."
15On Wednesday, pictures showed several train cars off the tracks.
16Some of the train cars were on top of each other.
17Emergency trucks were all around the area.
18A crane was also there to lift the train cars off one another.
19Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the crash site.
20He said, "I can guarantee one thing: We will find out the causes of this tragedy and we will do all that's in our power so that something like this never happens again."
21Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou went to the site to put flowers down.
22The government said there would be three days of national mourning and flags flew at half-staff outside the European Commission in Brussels.
23Greece's transport minister, Kostas Karamanlis, resigned on Wednesday.
24He said he was taking responsibility for the country's "long-standing failures" to fix a railway system that he said was not fit for the 21st century.
25Rescue worker Lazaros Sarianidis told ERT "it will take a long time" to move the train cars and remove the bodies.
26Vassilis Polyzos lives near the crash site.
27He was one of the first people to arrive at the scene.
28"The trains were completely destroyed," he said.
29"People ... were scared - very scared."
30The Greek Railroad Workers Union said the drivers of the two trains were both killed.
31Greece's firefighting service said 66 people were taken to hospitals.
32More than 200 people who survived the crash without serious injuries were taken by bus to Thessaloniki, about 130 kilometers away.
33I'm Dan Friedell.
1At least 36 people died and many others were hurt when two trains crashed into each other late Tuesday in northern Greece. 2One train was carrying people and the other was moving goods. Many of those who died were young people in their 20s. 3The accident took place near the Vale of Tempe, about 380 kilometers north of Athens. 4Investigators are working to find the cause of the crash. Greek police said they arrested the stationmaster in the nearby city of Larissa. 5State broadcaster ERT said the trains were traveling at speeds of more than 140 kilometers per hour when they ran into each other. 6Survivors said the crash threw passengers through windows. Some bodies were found 40 meters from the crash site. 7Stefanos Gogakos was sitting near the back of the passenger train. He said it felt like an explosion. He could see a fire at the front of the train. He was covered in glass, he said. 8"My head hit the roof," he said. "Some people started to climb out through the windows because there was smoke in the carriage." 9On Wednesday, pictures showed several train cars off the tracks. Some of the train cars were on top of each other. Emergency trucks were all around the area. A crane was also there to lift the train cars off one another. 10Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the crash site. 11He said, "I can guarantee one thing: We will find out the causes of this tragedy and we will do all that's in our power so that something like this never happens again." 12Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou went to the site to put flowers down. 13The government said there would be three days of national mourning and flags flew at half-staff outside the European Commission in Brussels. 14Greece's transport minister, Kostas Karamanlis, resigned on Wednesday. He said he was taking responsibility for the country's "long-standing failures" to fix a railway system that he said was not fit for the 21st century. 15Rescue worker Lazaros Sarianidis told ERT "it will take a long time" to move the train cars and remove the bodies. 16Vassilis Polyzos lives near the crash site. He was one of the first people to arrive at the scene. "The trains were completely destroyed," he said. "People ... were scared - very scared." 17The Greek Railroad Workers Union said the drivers of the two trains were both killed. 18Greece's firefighting service said 66 people were taken to hospitals. More than 200 people who survived the crash without serious injuries were taken by bus to Thessaloniki, about 130 kilometers away. 19I'm Dan Friedell. 20Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 21_______________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23roof -n. the cover or top of a building or vehicle 24carriage -n. the part of a train where people sit as passengers 25crane -n. a big machine with a long arm that is used by builders for lifting and moving heavy things 26half-staff -adj. the position of a flag flying at a lowered position on a pole as a mark of respect for a person who has died. 27site -n. a location where something happened 28scene -n. the location where something happened, usually used during something worrisome or concerning 29scared -adj. the feeling of fear or worry 30We want to hear from you. How do you think Greece should make sure train accidents do not happen in the future? 31We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 32Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.