Kostas Karamanlis, the Head of the Greek Ministry of Transport, announced his resignation after returning from the Tempe rail disaster scene. Local newspaper coverage, including Kathimerini, reported the development as a pivotal moment for the country’s political accountability and public trust.
In his statement, he underscored a fundamental truth: when tragedy strikes, life cannot proceed as if nothing has happened. The minister highlighted that democracy requires citizens to have confidence in the political system, a standard he described as political responsibility. He expressed that the severity of the incident demanded a response that went beyond routine governance and into the realm of moral duty.
He declared that he would resign from his role as Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, viewing the move as a modest but meaningful act of respect for the memory of the victims and a recognition of the state’s mistakes. He insisted that taking responsibility was a necessary step toward healing and toward restoring public faith in the institutions responsible for safety and oversight.
The Tempe disaster occurred at a railway junction near Tempi, a village that lies close to the city of Larisa in northern Greece. That night, a collision between freight and passenger trains sparked a large fire, causing several wagons to derail. Subsequent reports indicated a tragic toll, with dozens of lives lost and many others injured or hospitalized.
As details emerged, investigators and officials emphasized the scale of the tragedy and the profound impact on families and communities. The incident prompted discussions about railway safety, procedural oversight, and the accountability of national authorities charged with preventing such catastrophes. The government pledged a thorough review of safety protocols and an open, transparent process to determine how such a disaster occurred and what steps are needed to prevent a recurrence. In the days that followed, national leaders urged unity and a careful, factual examination of events to guide reforms and assurances for the traveling public.