Recent assertions from some technical advisers representing families of the victims of the Tempi tragedy regarding the presence of illegal, flammable cargo on the freight train involved in the incident on February 28, 2023, have been debunked. Findings from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) professors Dimitris Karoni and Petros Tsakiridis, submitted to appellate investigator Sotiris Bakaimi, indicate that the fireball created after the collision was due to silicone oils from the transformers.
Specifically, Professor Tsakiridis’ report challenges the claims made in the EODASAM conclusion, which suggested that the empty second locomotive of the commercial train housed the illegal cargo. Tsakiridis found no signs of combustion in that area, only collision-related damage.
The preliminary expert opinion from Professor Dimitris Karoni, commissioned by the appellate investigator, concludes that under the conditions of the accident, the engine oils (silicone oils) could indeed produce a fireball, as these oils can ignite at temperatures of 330 degrees Celsius and higher.
Karoni’s findings, for which some technical consultants, including Kostas Lakafosis, initially distanced themselves from connecting the incident to silicone oils, are grounded in analyses from the State General Chemistry Department, autopsy findings, materials gathered from the accident scene, and international research comparisons.
It is important to note that other expert opinions with similar conclusions, albeit derived through different methods, are included in the case file from technical advisers representing victims’ families and the Fire Brigade. All these assessments will be scrutinized by the court and the appellate investigator.
Read Professor Dimitris Karoni’s report here.
Tsakiridis Report: The Commercial Train’s Locomotive was Not on Fire
Professor of Metallurgy Petros Tsakiridis presented his findings to the appellate investigator, stating that an autopsy conducted by the Fire Service’s DAF in the Koulouri region concluded that the parts from the cockpit and electric locomotive frames showed no evidence of burning—indicating neither an explosion nor a fire, only deformation from the collision.
The EODASAM reported finding only minimal traces of the second electric train’s tank in the Koulouri area, leading officials to suggest that it carried illegal, flammable cargo behind the drivers’ seats. This assertion sparked outrage from the mother of victim Dimitris Massalis, who urged for an investigation by the Fire Brigade’s Arson Investigation Department, whose officers found and reconstructed the locomotive, confirming it had not burned.
Read the first part here and the second part here of Professor Tsakiridis’ report.
Reactions from Families and Parties
The findings prompted various reactions, notably from Maria Karystianou, who harshly criticized Professor Karoni on X, including a photo of him. Meanwhile, SYRIZA highlighted a line from the conclusion stating that silicone oils do not create a pyrosphere, omitting that this is true under “normal conditions” and not during a collision. Zoe Konstantopoulou demanded an explanation from Professor Karoni. Kostis Hatzidakis: Allegations of Cover-up by Experts and Opposition
The deputy prime minister argued that the initial “bazaar theory” contradicted common sense, as there was no explanation for why such a scenario would exist only on one side of the track. He emphasized that videos authenticated by ELAS show no such cargo, confirming the explosion’s link to silicone oils. Hatzidakis accused so-called experts and opposition groups of obfuscating the truth.
Pavlos Marinakis: The Opposition’s Claims falter
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis commented that the expert opinion should put an end to attempts to manipulate public perception regarding the tragedy.
He called opposition parties “propagators of falsehoods,” stating they exploited the accident to shift public anger away from much-needed accountability. “We’ve received threats, and the media narrative shifted unjustly,” he noted.
Konstantopoulou Contests Karonis’ Findings
In response to Professor Karonis’ findings, Zoe Konstantopoulou expressed her disbelief, stating that his conclusions stand in contradiction to experiments he has conducted and require further clarification. She indicated discomfort with the delay in presenting these findings and mentioned concerns regarding the integrity of evidence.
Konstantopoulou reaffirmed her support for the families of the victims, asserting their fight for truth and justice against an obstructive system.
SYRIZA Questions Evidence and Critiques Government
Syriza accused the government of manipulating Karoni’s conclusions for political gain, highlighting a lack of concrete evidence regarding the pyrosphere’s cause. They pointed out the ambiguities in Karoni’s report, asserting that definitive conclusions on the incident cannot be reached due to missing evidence.
However, it should be noted that the report clarifies that the assertion regarding silicone oils relates only to “normal conditions.”
Maria Karystianou’s Outrage at Findings
Maria Karystianou expressed her anger toward the conclusions drawn by Professor Dimitris Karonis, which attributed the explosion and fireball from the train collision to locomotive oils.
In her lengthy response, she described the conclusions as a “fiasco” and criticized the professor personally. “Mr. Karonis, do not invoke my daughter or the memory of the deceased, for you have insulted their legacy profoundly!” she implored.
She regarded Karoni’s arguments as vague and speculative and stated, “We aim to share this finding with the international scientific community, as it contradicts established research.”
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