The release of the latest report on the Tempi railway disaster, known as the Karonis report, has reignited political tensions in Greece, with opposition parties and families of the victims rejecting its conclusions as incomplete and misleading. The report, prepared by Professor Dimitris Karonis of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), aimed to provide a comprehensive explanation of the events leading to the fireball that engulfed a passenger train in February 2023, killing 57 people.
According to the report, the fireball was primarily caused by silicone oils that ignited under extremely high temperatures. Karonis dismissed earlier claims that other flammable substances were involved, asserting that the explosion was a singular event triggered by specific conditions within the train’s cargo area. He further argued that previous theories about illegal cargo or explosives lacked evidence and were based on speculation.
The Greek government, led by the New Democracy party, has framed the report as a vindication of its stance that allegations of a cover-up were unfounded. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated, “Now that the theories of a ‘cover-up’ have been debunked by scientific evidence, the opposition must answer for their attempts to mislead the public.”
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis echoed this view, accusing opposition parties of politically exploiting the tragedy. He claimed that Karonis’ findings disprove earlier allegations of government negligence and that political opponents had “attempted to weaponize unverified information to manipulate public opinion.”
However, opposition parties have rejected the report’s conclusions. PASOK called the government’s response “Goebbels-like propaganda,” maintaining that the report failed to address key questions about the incident. SYRIZA accused the government of cherry-picking findings to suit its narrative, while Plefsi Eleftherias leader Zoe Konstantopoulou questioned why it took 14 months to produce a report that “failed to provide concrete evidence.”
Families of the victims also expressed dissatisfaction, with some calling the report a “travesty” that left key questions unanswered. A lawyer representing several families said the report was “riddled with logical leaps” and that the conclusion about silicone oils was speculative at best.
The Tempi railway disaster occurred on February 28, 2023, when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train near the town of Tempi in central Greece. The impact caused a massive fireball that engulfed several train cars, resulting in 57 deaths and dozens of injuries. The incident exposed serious flaws in Greece’s railway infrastructure and led to widespread protests and demands for accountability. Nearly two years later, the political fallout continues as questions remain about the cause of the fireball and whether key evidence was mishandled in the aftermath and deliberately concealed.
