The number of victims in the severe railway accident in Greece is growing. There are already 57 people who died in the head-on collision between the two trains.
The country has been torn by anger and protests since the incident. Footage available to bTV shows just how strong the head-on collision between the trains was.
A huge fire breaks out in the collision. In the first carriages are Lazos Papazisis from Halkidiki and Theodore Katsoulis from Katerini. To bTV’s special correspondents, the men told how they broke windows to save themselves.
“I heard a very loud sound and the shock wave knocked me to the ground. I fell sideways. When I opened my eyes, I saw the whole wagon overturning and going up. It was so dark. Total darkness. In a moment it became so quiet, no voices. Complete darkness – there was white smoke on one side and clapping on the other,” said 59-year-old Theodor Katciulis.
“I was in the third carriage. Suddenly there was a very loud crash and it became dark. Very dark. I smelled smoke. I pounded on the window with everything I could find, but I couldn’t break the glass. A young boy managed to break a window with the fire extinguisher and that’s how I got away. I have a broken rib, I lost my hearing in my right ear. But I am lucky and I am grateful to the Mother of God that I am alive and that I was saved,” added Lazos Papazisis.
Photo: btvnovinite.bg
The rescue operation has officially ended. 20 people remain missing.
