Athens: Mass protests erupted across Greece on Friday as hundreds of thousands took to the streets on the second anniversary of the country’s deadliest train crash, demanding justice for the victims and accountability from the government. In Athens, demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and set fire to trash cans, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons.
The disaster, which occurred on February 28, 2023, claimed 57 lives when a passenger train carrying students collided with a freight train in central Greece. The tragedy has come to symbolize years of neglect in the country’s railway infrastructure, with critics arguing that little has changed since the incident.
In one of the biggest protests in Greece in years, public services and many private businesses were brought to a halt and people poured into the streets on the second anniversary of the country's deadliest train crash, which killed 57 people https://t.co/07DWAeEIER pic.twitter.com/AS6J6Q6mfQ
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 1, 2025
Mass Mobilization and Unrest
“This wasn’t an accident, it was murder,” said Christos Main, a 57-year-old musician attending the Athens rally. “The government hasn’t done anything to get justice.”
Public services and private businesses were brought to a standstill as one of the largest protests in years unfolded. Demonstrators flooded major cities and towns, chanting “murderers” in reference to the state’s perceived role in the catastrophe. The government has denied any wrongdoing.
In Athens’ Syntagma Square, a sea of protesters gathered in front of parliament, spray-painting the names of the victims in red on the ground. Across the country, chants of “I have no oxygen”—the haunting last words of a victim’s emergency call—resounded among the crowds.
The demonstration remained peaceful until a group of hooded youths clashed with riot police, hurling petrol bombs and attempting to breach security barricades at the parliament building. Clashes then spilled into surrounding neighborhoods. Similar confrontations broke out in Thessaloniki, where mourners released black balloons in memory of the victims.
Authorities reported more than 80 detentions and five injuries in Athens alone.
Political Fallout and Government Response
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government, which secured re-election months after the crash, continues to face criticism from victims’ families for failing to initiate a parliamentary inquiry into political responsibility.
The government maintains that the judiciary is responsible for investigating the accident. In a Facebook post on Friday, Mitsotakis reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to modernizing the railway network.
“That night, we saw the ugliest face of the country in the national mirror,” he wrote, referring to the crash. “Fatal human errors met with chronic state inadequacies.”
A state inquiry released on Thursday revealed that safety gaps contributing to the crash remain unaddressed. Meanwhile, a judicial investigation is still incomplete, and no convictions have been made.
Opposition parties have accused the government of suppressing key evidence and are calling for its resignation. Parliament is expected to debate next week whether to establish a committee to investigate potential political responsibility.
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The prolonged wait for justice has fueled frustration among victims’ relatives.
Anastasia Plakia, who lost two sisters and a cousin in the crash, shared a heartfelt Facebook post alongside a photo of them smiling together at a restaurant: “730 days without you; 730 days of sadness, pain, and rage.”
Nationwide General Strike
In a show of solidarity, Greece saw a sweeping 24-hour general strike as air traffic controllers, seafarers, train drivers, doctors, lawyers, and teachers joined the movement. All international and domestic flights were grounded, businesses shuttered, and theatres canceled performances to honor the victims.
A Pulse survey conducted this week found that 82% of respondents considered the train disaster one of the country’s most pressing issues, while 66% expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing investigations.
“Every day, the monster of corrupt power appears before us,” said Maria Karystianou, who lost her daughter in the crash and now leads an association of victims’ families. Addressing the crowd in Athens, she voiced the collective grief and anger of those still awaiting answers.
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Students carried signs that read, “Text me when you get there,” echoing the final messages sent by victims’ loved ones. Another sign read: “Greece kills its children.”
“We’re here because we’re parents… tomorrow it might be our children,” said Litsa, a 45-year-old nurse.
With pressure mounting on the government, the demonstrations have underscored the deep public anger over what many see as an unresolved national tragedy.
