The new Greek Transport Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, has apologized on Thursday to the relatives of the victims of the accident between two trains that occurred on Tuesday and which, according to a provisional balance, has caused 46 deaths.
“I would like, first of all, to apologize to the relatives of the people who lost their lives and I am taking this opportunity to make a complete self-criticism of the political system and the State,” declared Gerapetritis, pointing out serious flaws in the Greek railway network, admitting “chronicles of deficiencies” in the public rail sector.
Statements along the same lines have also been made today by the Greek government spokesman, Iannis Oikonomou, at a press conference in Athens.
“Delays [na modernização dos caminhos de ferros na Grécia] have their origin in the chronic pathologies of the Greek public sector, after decades of fragility”, stressed Oikonomou, stressing that the head of the Larissa station, the closest town to the accident, in central Greece, has already confessed the mistake, after also being arrested on Wednesday Thursday, having been charged with “culpable homicide.”
“The negligence and error were admitted by the stationmaster himself,” he added.
Minutes later, the station manager’s defense confirmed that the defendant had already “acknowledged the error.”
The controversy has grown in the country since Wednesday, calling into question the state of the railway network, which many consider neglected.
The president of the train drivers’ union, Kostas Genidounias, denounced the lack of security on this line that connects Athens and Thessaloniki, the two main cities in Greece.
On Wednesday, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, had already admitted that the collision of two trains was due to “tragic human error”.
“Everything indicates that the drama was due, unfortunately, to a tragic human error,” explained Mitsotakis, already after the Greek Transport Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, announced his resignation after the accident between a passenger train and a train merchandise, which collided headfirst. in the same line.
The station manager of Larissa, the closest town to the accident, in central Greece, was also arrested this Wednesday and accused of “negligent homicide” and of having caused “bodily harm”.
Mitsotakis said most of the victims were “young” as many students were returning to Thessaloniki after a long weekend on Monday, a public holiday in Greece.
“We owe these victims an honest response,” added the head of government in a brief televised speech.
Source: TSF
