Testimony continues in the Tempi train disaster trial

On October 14, 2026, the trial regarding the Tempi railway accident continued with the testimony of Panos Rutsis, the father of victim Denis Rutsis. The witness described the scene of the crash as "hellish," noting intense flames and a peculiar odor when he arrived at the site between 3:00 and 4:00 AM on the night of the incident. Rutsis raised critical questions regarding the origin of the fire, suggesting that many victims might have survived had the fire not occurred, and questioned why authorities restricted access to the site during the aftermath.

During his testimony, Rutsis revealed that he suffered health complications, including high blood pressure and a mini-stroke, following a hunger strike he undertook in protest. Furthermore, he alleged that he and his lawyer, Zoe Konstantopoulou, were approached with a bribe to cease their involvement in the case, marking the first time he has publicly disclosed this attempt. The court proceedings for victim families are set to resume on Monday, October 19. The examination of Panos Rutsis remains ongoing, with testimony from the mother and sister of Denis Rutsis still pending.