New revelations and allegations about the Tempi train tragedy continue to hit headlines.
On Tuesday, documents reviewed by local journalists cast aspersions on the Greek Fire Department’s handling of the investigation into the disaster.
In the immediate aftermath of the collision between a freight train and passenger train in February 2023 which led to 57 deaths, two separate investigations were launched. The first was led by a team from the Fire Service’s Arson Crimes Division, the second by accident experts appointed by the Prosecutor’s Office in cooperation with the Larissa Traffic Police Department .
According to documents in In.gr, in the immediate aftermath, two firefighters went to the scene and wrote a report linking the fire to the train collision.
According to sworn statements given before the Larissa Court of Appeals prosecutor by members of the Corps and reviewed by Katherimini, on March 2, 2023 the Chief of the Fire Department ordered a team from the Arson Crimes Division to go to Tempi to assist local investigators.
A disciplinary investigation revealed that this team was ordered to leave by high-ranking Fire Department officials in Thessaly. The team members claim they received a phone call instructing them to leave, with one firefighter reporting that they were told, “Get out of there. Get out right now.”
According to Katherimini the team reportedly arrived at the scene, but the operations coordinator informed them that the police were in charge of the investigation and instructed them not to take any investigative actions, sign documents, or perform an autopsy of the site. The team left after24 hours.
According to In.gr, after complying with the order to leave, a firefighter contacted their commander for clarification. The commander responded by saying, “Let it blow over,” without providing further details.
Later, the former according to documents reviewed by Katherimini, the Chief claimed he was unaware of the team’s departure and denied giving any orders to prevent them from carrying out their duties, stating that his order was for them to stay as long as necessary.
The Operations Coordinator, when questioned, also claimed ignorance of the team’s departure and thought the team had done their work.
This has raised another swirl of questions about whether the investigation was being suppressed.
A new Fire Department team arrived at the scene 23 days later, after the site had been altered, and concluded that silicone oils from the trains’ transformers were responsible for the fire.
The Greek government long maintained the conclusion that silicone oils from the trains’ transformers were responsible for the fire. At the end of January an expert report confirmed previous estimates that the freight train was in fact transporting illegal flammable liquids which led to the blaze. The Prime Minister acquiesced some days later that “the then unlikely scenario regarding the cargo may now be possible,” leading to public outrage.
Prosecutions for breach of duty were filed against four Fire Department executives, including three local officers and the operations coordinator. Administrative examinations and disciplinary actions followed, including the dismissal of the major general involved in the case.
Other investigations into the train crash and subsequent fire are ongoing.
Greece’s National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Rail Accidents and Transport Security is set to release its report on the crash and its causes this February 27, one day before the two-year anniversary.