36 dead, scores injured as trains collide in Greece

A head-on collision between a passenger train and a cargo train in Greece has left at least 36 persons dead and another 85 injured.

Kathimerini, a local news site, reports that the train which crashed just before midnight on Tuesday was carrying many university students returning home.

The crash occurred as the passenger train, which had 350 people aboard, emerged from a tunnel and collided with the cargo train at full speed.

Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames after the incident.

Pictures on social media showed badly damaged derailed carriages with broken windows. Rescuers looking for more survivors could also be seen.

Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the windows of the train cars due to the impact, adding that others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled into a field near a gorge.

Stergios Minenis, a 28-year-old passenger who jumped to safety, said the crash was “nightmarish” with a loud bang followed by fire.

“We were turning over in the wagon until we fell on our sides… there was panic,” he said. “The fire was immediate, as we were turning over we were being burned, fire was right and left.”

It is not clear why the trains were sharing similar travel routes at the same time.

Police say there is an ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident.