UPDATE 4 - At least 36 die in train collision in northern Greece

UPDATES NUMBERS OF DEAD AND INJURED; TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER'S PHONE CALL; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Ahmet Gencturk, Servet Gunerigok, and Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA / ATHENS / WASHINGTON (AA) - The death toll from a collision between a passenger train and a cargo train in northern Greece has risen to 36, an official said on Wednesday.

At least 130 people were also injured, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a fire service representative, told a briefing shown on public broadcaster ERT.

Of the injured, 66 are being treated in various nearby hospitals, said Vathrakogiannis.

The passenger train was reportedly carrying 346 people and was on its way from Athens to Thessaloniki, with the trains colliding in the town of Tempi in the northern Larissa province.

According to reports, several carriages came off the rails and at least three caught fire.

At least 30 ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Firefighters working on specific wagons are using four special crane vehicles, said Vathrakogiannis.

Meanwhile, the Greek police and medical examiners have started the process of identifying bodies at the general hospital in Larissa.

- Türkiye offers condolences

Neighboring Türkiye issued a statement of condolences, expressing sorrow over the loss of life.

“We have learned with sorrow that many people lost their lives and were injured last night as a result of a train crash in our neighbor Greece,” said a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement.

“We extend our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident as well as to the people and government of Greece and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

Additionally, in a phone call, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu conveyed his condolences to his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.