The army at the scene of the tragedy in Tempe – Images from the operation to free the victims

So far, 36 people have been confirmed dead from the severe collision between a passenger train and a freight train, late on Tuesday night in the Evangelismos area, near Tempi, while it is estimated that the number of victims will increase.

The efforts of the rescue crews to extract people from the wreckage of the trains – an amorphous mass of steel – are enormous, while the army also helps in the work of extricating the victims.

Greece train crash

At least 36 people have died and 85 injured after two trains collided north of Athens

Police said several carriages came off the rails, with at least three of them catching fire. pic.twitter.com/O2gQJVf1g9

— News Live SA (@newslivesa) March 1, 2023

Men from EMAK and the Greek Army set up tents as the operation will last for several hours.

At the crash site, 4 huge cranes lift pieces of the crushed passenger cars.

150 firefighters, including members of the Special Disaster Response Unit and the Special Forest Operations Unit, are participating in the huge operation, while EKAB continues to assist with 30 ambulances.

The EKAM special forces with cutting tools and using oxygen bottles continue to cut sheet metal from the first wagons looking for people.

The injured have been transferred mainly to the two hospitals in Larissa, but also to hospitals in Katerinis, Volos and Thessaloniki.