ATHENS, March 3: The death toll from Tuesday night’s train crash in central Greece has risen to 57, authorities said Thursday.
Forty-eight people remain hospitalized, six of them in intensive care, Greek police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou told reporters.
A search and rescue operation is expected to conclude on Friday, added Greek Fire Service spokesman Vasilios Vathrakogiannis.
Simultaneously, an investigation is underway to determine the causes of the accident and how and why a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train traveling in opposite directions.
A station master has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide.
The government declared a three-day national mourning until Friday and vowed that problems affecting the operation of the railways will be addressed to prevent such tragedies in the future.
