The number of fatalities in Greece’s Tuesday train crash has increased to 57, a coroner told BBC News.
Tuesday evening’s head-on collision between a passenger and freight train also caused over 80 injuries. Officials blamed the crash on human error.
The crash is being investigated by 10 coroners, including Eleni Zaggelidou who told the broadcaster that investigators had taken DNA samples from 57 bodies.
Rail workers went on strike across Greece on Thursday, as the public’s anger toward authorities mounted. Walkouts occurred in Athens, Thessaloniki and Larissa, located close to the accident.
According to reports, rescue teams are continuing to sort through the wreckage for signs of survivors.
The crash took place shortly before midnight on Tuesday. The passenger train had 350 people onboard. It collided with a freight train after both became stuck on the same track. The collision caused the front carriage to burst into flames, according to Reuters.
Multiple train cars derailed and at least three caught fire after the crash which occurred near Tempe, some 380 kilometers north of Athens, according to AP.
Much of the Greek public considered the crash inevitable due to a history of lax track maintenance, with the rail union accusing the government and its predecessors of not paying attention to the railway industry and workers.
Greek police arrested a 59-year-old railroad worker over the collision, citing negligence, DW reported.
Greek Transportation Minister Kostas Karamanlis also resigned on Wednesday.
In a statement, he said he was leaving his post as it was "the least he could do to honor the memory of the victims.”
He added he was “taking responsibility for the state's long-standing failures."
The accident has been described by Greek media as the country’s deadliest train crash.