Greek investigators are reopening key aspects of the probe into the Tempe deadly train crash following new findings that suggest critical evidence may have been tampered with.
The special appellate investigator, Sotiris Bakaimis, has summoned new witnesses to testify about the alleged “burying” of crucial evidence at the crash site.
Authorities suspect that improper handling of the scene in the immediate aftermath of the disaster may have erased key forensic clues.
The inquiry also focuses on the possibility that an unidentified flammable substance played a role in the fireball that engulfed parts of the trains upon impact.
The president of the Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority (HARSIA), Christos Papadimitriou, has suggested that this substance may have been located near the second carriage of the freight train.
Investigators plan another on-site inspection to examine wreckage stored in the settlement of Koulouri.
Adding further to the complexity, an internal report from Hellenic Train implicates Yiannis Xifaras, secretary -general of transport at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, in key decisions regarding the site’s management.
Five individuals with knowledge of the site’s handling have been called to testify this coming Friday.
Meanwhile, a forensic report by National Technical University of Athens professor Dimitris Karonis is expected to provide clarity on whether silicone oils from train transformers could have fueled the fireball. Conflicting expert opinions have surfaced, with some suggesting illegal cargo, possibly xylene, was involved.
The case has already led to charges against seven people, including former Thessaly regional governor Kostas Agorastos.
Investigators are also considering widening the probe after the testimony of two high-ranking transport officials scheduled in March.
As the inquiry unfolds, the possibility of political accountability looms large, raising questions about regulatory oversight and crisis management in Greece’s rail system.