In the wake of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ recent interview addressing the Tempi train tragedy, Minister of Transport Christos Staikouras faced tough questions during a live appearance on SKAI television.
The Tempi disaster, which claimed 57 lives in February 2023, has been an ongoing source of national outrage. A recent report alleged that flammable cargo on the freight train caused the deaths of 30 people, leading to further accusations of a government cover-up.
When pressed during the interview on whether illegal cargo, such as flammable materials, was being transported on trains, Staikouras deflected, saying, “Who can put their hand in the fire when you see that there is a preliminary investigation being conducted? The judiciary has not yet reached a conclusion.”
Shortly after Staikouras’ interview and one day after the Prime Minister’s, Hellenic Train issued a new statement regarding the freight train’s contents.
The issue of “suspicious cargo” is tied to political criticism, independent investigations, and claims from victims’ families of the Tempi train crash, who suggest that the blaze was caused by flammable liquid, potentially xylene, rather than the collision. Traces of xylene in the debris have raised suspicions that the train was transporting illegal solvents, commonly used in fuel smuggling to adulterate petrol and cheat motorists.
No official government investigation has looked into the cause of the blaze that broke out after the crash
When asked if he had considered resigning over the handling of the case, Staikouras dismissed the idea, stating, “Why, have I done something that is not in the right direction in terms of strengthening transport safety?”
Staikouras defended his ministry’s actions, highlighting initiatives like the strengthening of Greece’s Air and Railway Accident Investigation Organization and the allocation of €1.2 billion for infrastructure improvements.
The transport minister also struggled to provide clear assurances about current rail safety. While he emphasized efforts to enhance transport safety, he admitted, “Absolute transport safety does not exist anywhere in the world,” citing recent accidents in Wales and Strasbourg as examples.
As public anger grows, families of the victims and opposition parties have accused the government of attempting to distort the truth and shield political figures from accountability. KKE, PASOK and SYRIZA have called for a parliamentary debate on the tragedy, with SYRIZA demanding that Mitsotakis follow the example of Serbia’s prime minister, who recently resigned over a deadly train-related incident.
As the judicial investigation progresses, the government’s handling of the case remains under intense scrutiny.