The Greek prime minister apologizes to the relatives for the train accident and the station manager has been sent to jail

• Greece Head-on train crash in Greece was due to "tragic human error"

• Larisa station manager charged for the train accident with 57 deaths in Greece

The

apologized to the relatives of the 57 who died in the worst railway tragedy in the country, where this Sunday there were new demonstrations that led to

In

the closest city to the site of the accident, the station manager, accused of a fatal error,

and was formally charged for his alleged responsibility for the "death of a large number of people."

This crime is punishable by

according to the Greek Penal Code.

The 59-year-old man, whose identity

was revealed by the Ministry of Transport, acknowledged his responsibility in the head-on collision.

After the indictment he was placed in

The collision between a passenger train and a freight train on Tuesday night between

caused 57 deaths and sparked a wave of protests in the country.

"As prime minister, I owe it to everyone, but above all to the relatives of the victims (to ask them) for forgiveness," the leader wrote in a message to the nation, an

"In Greece, in 2023, it is not possible for two trains to run in opposite directions on the same track and for no one to notice," he added in his message, posted on Facebook.

"Immense Rage"

Some 12,000 people, according to the police, gathered this Sunday in front of the Parliament, in Athens, in protests called by students, railway workers and officials.

Protesters

as a tribute to the victims.

president of a union of accounting experts, told AFP,

who joined the procession.

"The interest in profit, the lack of measures for the protection of passengers led to the worst railway tragedy in our country," he said.

"Nothing works in this country, hospitals are dying, schools are closing, forests are burning... Who are they making fun of?" said

president of a railway union.

Protesters

and police responded with tear gas and flash grenades, AFP journalists reported.

According to the Greek police, seven officers were injured and five people were arrested after the altercations.

"Killers"

This drama has shocked the country, especially since

students returning to Thessaloniki after a long holiday weekend.

On television, the heartbreaking images of some parents waiting for news about their children in front of a hospital contributed to increasing the indignation towards the authorities and their management of the situation, considered calamitous.

The

came to light the day after the accident.

According to the Greek press, he had received only brief training before finding himself alone, at the post, on a particularly busy long weekend.

The railway company,

is at the center of the population's anger.

At their headquarters in Athens, they painted the word "Murderers" red.

The company is accused of

that led to the collision, which authorities described as a "national tragedy."

The company defended itself on Saturday night and claimed to have "been present at the scene from the very beginning" and to have set up "a call center (...) to provide information."

Hellenic Train also indicated that it is only in charge of passenger and freight transport, but that the management of the network, its maintenance and its modernization are the responsibility of the

The company's union representatives had warned of the situation only three weeks ago.

"We are not going to wait for an accident to happen to see those responsible cry crocodile tears," they said then.

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