At 1:30 a.m. on Friday, April 3, the stillness of Omonia Square in central Athens was shattered by the piercing wail of ambulance sirens. Within seconds, the area filled with emergency vehicles—ambulances, specialized disaster-response units, police motorcycles, patrol cars, and fire engines. Passersby and drivers slowed, trying to grasp what was unfolding. All units converged on a single point: the Omonia metro station.

This was the opening scene of a large-scale emergency exercise codenamed “Rail SOS” or “Raga SOS,” organized by the Urban Rail Transport (STASY) and carried out in the early hours along Metro Line 1. To prevent alarm, authorities had issued a prior announcement, informing the public that a readiness drill involving police, fire services, emergency medical teams, and metro staff would take place overnight in the underground section of the line.

The scenario was among the most challenging conceivable: a packed train derailing inside a tunnel, followed by an explosion, fire, and dozens of casualties. The complexity was heightened by the location of the incident—100 meters beyond the platform, deep within the tunnel—necessitating a full power shutdown to ensure the safety of rescue crews.

Firefighters equipped with specialized gear descended onto the tracks, while police officers evacuated the station, recorded the names of the injured, and coordinated the response alongside metro personnel. At the same time, the Emergency Medical Service’s Special Disaster Response Unit swiftly set up a large triage tent, where victims received first aid before being transported to hospitals. Rescue operations were carried out not only through the station exits but also via emergency shafts along the line.

As part of the simulation, casualties presented with respiratory distress, burns, and severe injuries, while one individual was handed over to paramedics unconscious. Among the critically injured, according to the scenario, was the train driver.

The exercise concluded successfully just before 4:00 a.m. Its realism was such that police officers were repeatedly approached by concerned passersby and tourists seeking information.