At least 38 killed as trains collide in Greece

Greek transport minister Kostas Karamanlis has announced his resignation following a fatal train collision that occurred in Greece Tuesday, state-owned public broadcaster ERT reports.

The crash, which killed at least 36 people, happened four hours north of Athens.

Greece’s railway system is “not up to 21st century standards,” Karamanlis said Wednesday in his resignation speech.

“It is a fact that we received the Greek railway system in a state that is not up to 21st century standards,” he said, adding that in the last three-and-a-half years the government had “made every effort to improve this reality,” he said.

“Unfortunately, our efforts have not been sufficient to prevent such a bad incident. And this is very heavy for all of us and me personally,” he added. 

At least 36 people were killed and dozens injured when a passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided with a freight train in Greece, according to the Greek Fire Service.

It occurred in Tempi, located in central Greece, near the city of Larissa, officials said.

Here's a look at where the crash happened:

Passengers on the Greek train that crashed into a freight train in northern Greece on Tuesday night have described "nightmarish seconds" as the carriage overturned.

“We heard a big bang, (it was) 10 nightmarish seconds, we were turning over in the wagon until we fell on our sides, and until the commotion stopped, then there was panic, cables (everywhere) fire, the fire was immediate, as we were turning over we were being burned, fire was right and left,” Stergios Minenis, 28, told Reuters news agency.

"There was panic, for 10, 15 seconds it was chaos, tumbling over, fires, cables hanging, broken windows, people screaming, people trapped, it was two metres high from where we jumped to leave and beneath there were broken iron debris, but what could we do?”

Another passenger, pointing at Minenis, said: "We came down, a fire had erupted next to us, this man here he saw a hole, so we managed to get out from where we were."

Most of the passengers involved in a head-on collision between two trains in central Greece Tuesday were young, the head of the intensive care unit (ICU) at a nearby hospital told state-owned public broadcaster ERT Wednesday.

“Most of the people on board were young,” Apostolos Komnos, Head of ICU at Larissa General Hospital, where those with injuries are being treated, told the broadcaster. 

The death toll from the train collision now stands at 36, the Greek Fire Service said.

Rescuers are in the process of identifying the dead, Greek Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis said in an updated briefing. About 150 firefighters and first responders are working on site. 

Greece has declared a three-day mourning period with flag at half-mast starting Wednesday following the deadly train crash government officials told CNN.

“I understand he (Prime Minister) is very close to the scene and is expected to speak,” Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ team told CNN.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou has also announced that she is cutting short a visit to Moldova to return to Greece.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is heading to the scene of a train collision in the area of Tempi, central Greece, his office confirmed to CNN Wednesday. 

At least 36 people have been confirmed dead so far, after two trains collided in Greece on Tuesday night, according to the Greek Fire Service.

The process of identifying victims has begun, Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris said early on Wednesday.

Speaking outside the hospital in Larissa, Plevris said: “As you understand this is a terrifying process for parents and relatives who are here. We will help them as much as we can.”

He said there were “some difficulties” in the identification process, but added that, “Those injured are in relatively good condition.”

More European leaders have expressed their condolences in the wake of Tuesday night's deadly train crash in Greece.

"Terrible news from Greece where a train collision has claimed dozens of lives," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter.

"I have expressed my condolences to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and wished him and the Greek people great strength at this time. My thoughts are with all the victims and their families."

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wrote: "Our thoughts go to the victims and their loved ones of the terrible train accident near Larissa, Greece.

"On behalf of the Belgian government, I have conveyed our condolences and solidarity to Kyriakos Mitsotakis."

Gitanas Nauseda, President of Lithuania, said on social media: "Our thoughts are with the people of Greece after the deadly train accident.

"Condolences to President of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the families of the victims."

Prime Minister of Latvia, Kriskanis Karins, said: "My deepest condolences to the families of those killed in a terrible train collision near the city Larissa, Greece. Wish speedy recovery to all injured!"

The death toll from the train collision now stands at 36 after officials corrected an earlier announcement that two more people had lost their lives.

Rescuers are in the process of identifying the dead, Greek Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis said in an updated briefing, state-owned public broadcaster ERT reported. About 150 firefighters and first responders are working on site. 

As of now 66 people are being treated in hospital, with six in intensive care.  

The process of identifying the victims of Tuesday night's train collision has begun, Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris says.

Speaking outside the hospital in Larissa, a city close to where the two trains collided, Plevris said: "We have started the process of identifying the dead. As you understand this is a terrifying process for parents and relatives who are here. We will help them as much as we can.” 

“There are some difficulties in the identification process… Those injured are in relatively good condition,” Plevris added.