Mass protests and strikes grip Greece over rail disaster outrage

Youths clashed with police outside Greece's parliament on Friday, hurling rocks and gasoline bombs during mass protests marking the second anniversary of a deadly train crash in northern Greece. After hours of peaceful demonstrations in Athens, protesters, led by victims' relatives, smashed paving stones, and threw rubble and firebombs at police, who responded with tear gas. (Image credit: AP)

The February 28, 2023, disaster in Tempe, Greece’s worst railway accident, occurred when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train. The fiery crash injured dozens and highlighted flaws in the country's transportation infrastructure. (Image credits: AP)

A report on the Tempe crash cited human error, outdated infrastructure, and systemic failures. Survivors recalled chaos with tumbling carriages, fires, and shattered windows as they tried to escape. (Image credits: AP)

Flights and rail services have been canceled, ferries suspended, and public transportation severely disrupted nationwide. Private businesses and public services also affected, with many Athens stores closed, displaying messages of solidarity for the victims' families. (Image credits: AP)

Protesters in Athens chanted, “You count profits. We count lives,” while carrying black balloons, anti-government banners, and blaring aerosol horns. Athens municipal worker Costas Reintzopoulos said the rail crash underscored longstanding demands for safer working conditions. (Image credits: AP)

Over 5,000 police officers have been deployed in the capital to manage crowds and potential unrest. Memorial services will be held at Orthodox churches in Athens for the victims, many of whom were university students returning from a long weekend. (Image credits: AP)

“This day is one of remembrance, respect and reflection,” the families' association said. “It is dedicated to those who were unjustly lost, to the grieving families, and to the pursuit of justice that remains unresolved.” (Image credits: AP)

The protests have put Greece's PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government in a politically fragile position. While his conservatives maintain a strong lead in the polls, public anger over the Tempe disaster has boosted support for anti-establishment parties on both the left and right. (Image credits: AP)