Greek police on Wednesday dispersed protesters who had fired tear gas firebombs at a protest by tens of thousands of people outraged by the country’s worst railway tragedy.

It is estimated that at least 50,000 protesters took to the streets across Greece on this day and staged workers’ strikes to express their outrage at the worst railway tragedy the country has ever experienced.

At least 57 people died and 14 remain in hospital after a passenger train collided head-on with a freight convoy on February 28.

The largest demonstration took place in Athens, with about 40,000 participants, who held banners that read: “It’s not an accident, it’s a crime.”

Outside parliament, dozens of hooded men threw Molotov cocktails and stones at riot police, who responded with tear gas, an AFP journalist found.

In Thessaloniki – the country’s second city – police clashed with protesters outside the train station.

Police reported that more than 65,000 protesters took to the streets across the country.

Public services officials also went on strike for 24 hours, as did primary school teachers, doctors, bus and subway drivers and those responsible for maritime connections to the country’s many islands.

Demonstrations also erupted when Greek officials staged a 24-hour strike, which also saw doctors, teachers and transport workers strike. Demonstrations also erupted when Greek officials staged a 24-hour strike, which also saw doctors, teachers and transport workers strike. Photo: — LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

At the demonstration in the Greek capital, many banners called for the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Protesters carried the slogan “Call me when you arrive”, in reference to the message a mother sent to her son who died in the accident.

Many Greeks also express resentment at what they see as the deterioration of public services since the austerity plans of the Greek creditors to save the country.

very young victims

Greece is facing a wave of outrage not seen since the 2008-2018 financial crisis, with demonstrations turning increasingly violent.

For Spyridoula Togia, a 30-year-old teacher, this railway tragedy is “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.

Many of the victims were young people and students. In recent days, images of broken parents burying their children, often broadcast live on television, have further shaken the country.

Lárisa’s station manager, who acknowledged his responsibility in the accident, is in custody.

The two trains ran on the same track for several miles, without anyone noticing, until a head-on collision on February 28 at night near Larissa, 350 km north of Athens.

After this “national tragedy”, as the authorities describe it, the Greeks demanded accountability from their leaders, starting with the prime minister.

The head of government, who faces general elections in the spring, was harshly criticized for making it happen hours after the catastrophe that it was a “tragic human error”.

The railway unions recalled this in anger they had warned of serious disturbances on that line long before the drama and went unheeded.

The prime minister apologized to the families of the victims on Sunday, too late for many. He also asked for help from the European Union, which will send experts from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) to Athens this week.

Anger is also directed at the Hellenic Train railway company, owned by the Italian state railways, whose Athens headquarters was smeared with the word “murderers” during a protest on Friday.

This company, which manages passenger and freight traffic, responded to the allegations by pointing out that responsibility for maintaining the network fell to the Greek public company OSE.