Greek prosecutors have granted a request to exhume the body of Tempi rail crash victim Dimitris Aslanidis to allow for DNA identification. The Larissa Prosecutor’s Office approved the move following repeated appeals by his father, after earlier requests had been rejected. Authorities said the exhumation will be carried out solely for identification purposes, not for further medical testing.

Meanwhile, Pano Ruci, who lost his son Denni in the February 2023 disaster, has entered the 17th day of a hunger strike. He has vowed to continue until his calls for justice are heard. Doctors warn his health is deteriorating rapidly. “There is no more time,” said pathologist and infectious disease specialist Olga Kosmopoulou, urging immediate action.

Ruci’s protest has drawn wide public support, with thousands gathering in Athens in recent weeks to show solidarity. His hunger strike has become a symbol of the ongoing fight for accountability after Greece’s deadliest rail tragedy, which left 57 people dead.

The exhumation of Ruci’s son, which had been scheduled for this Friday, has been postponed until next week. According to reports, the delay was granted following a request from his lawyer, Zoe Konstantopoulou, for the appointment of technical advisors.

These developments come as preparations move forward for the trial of 36 defendants connected to the crash, marking a new phase in the legal process families have been demanding for more than a year.