Passengers aboard the train involved in the deadly Tempi crash were sitting on seats that did not meet fire-resistance standards and may have accelerated the spread of flames, according to findings from the national air and rail accident investigation authority.
The authority examined three seat samples from the passenger train and sent them to a specialized laboratory in Germany. The analysis concluded that the materials did not comply with required fire-retardant specifications. Investigators said the seats acted as fuel in car B2, where a major fire broke out after the collision.
Technical advisers representing victims’ families outlined a critical 15-minute window in which the fire rapidly spread. According to their presentation, at least two people who initially survived the crash became trapped in the burning carriage and were later found charred.
The report indicates that the seats in the affected carriage lacked the mandated fireproof materials because they were not installed during past repairs. One technical adviser said the seats were essentially covered with simple fabric, comparable to household sofas that can easily ignite and continue burning once a fire starts.
Survivor account
A passenger who was inside the carriage that burned described conditions of thick black smoke and suffocating air. She recalled seeing fire nearby as she managed to exit.
Families raise concerns
Relatives of victims voiced concerns over the handling of the investigation. A lawyer who lost his child in the crash argued that the inquiry should have continued on the specific issue of seat safety, saying the findings could point to serious criminal liability. He noted that the investigation phase closed two days after the German lab delivered its results.
Families also criticized restrictions surrounding exhumations. One victim’s father said families are not allowed to collect samples for independent testing and that certain examinations they seek are not being conducted domestically. According to him, forensic officials indicated that DNA testing is the only analysis currently available in Greece, which families say is not their main concern.
The revelations come as families and authorities await the start of the trial related to the Tempi train disaster, scheduled to begin on March 23.
