Relatives of Tempi tragedy victims testify in court

The trial regarding the February 28, 2023, rail disaster in Tempi, Greece, which claimed 57 lives, is ongoing at the Three-Member Court of Appeals in Larissa. Recent sessions have focused on emotionally charged testimonies from relatives of the victims, including parents of the 23-year-old Cypriot student Kyprianos Papaioannou and the mother of Gerasimos Georgiadis, the sole survivor of the first carriage who remains in critical condition. Witnesses provided harrowing accounts of the identification process, the mysterious fire and chemical odors encountered at the scene, and the lasting psychological trauma affecting survivors and families.

During the 40th session, Panos Routsos, the father of victim Denis Routsos, alleged that he was offered money and subjected to surveillance in 2025 to stop pursuing the truth regarding his son's death and to distance himself from lawyer Zoe Konstantopoulou. He warned that the lack of transparency and conflicting narratives surrounding the cause of the fire have fueled deep distrust. As the court continues to hear from survivors and family members, these testimonies underscore a collective demand for accountability and a thorough investigation into the systemic failures that led to the crash. The proceedings remain focused on establishing the facts of that night and identifying those responsible for the catastrophic failure of the rail network.