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ATHENS, Greece – The death toll from Tuesday night’s train collision in Greece has risen to thirty-six while 85 people have been injured, of which sixty-six have been hospitalized.

According to the Reuters news agency, the crash occurred as the passenger train, with 350 people on board, emerged from a tunnel after departing earlier from Athens.

It took place about 220 miles north of Athens. Derailed carriages, badly damaged with broken windows and thick plumes of smoke, could be seen on the site, where rescuers were looking for more survivors.

One passenger carriage stood on its side at almost ninety degrees from the rest of the wrecked train, with other derailed carriages tilting precariously.

Stergios Minenis, a 28-year-old passenger who jumped to safety from the wreckage, said the crash was “nightmarish” with a loud bang followed by fire.

“We were turning over in the wagon until we fell on our sides… there was panic,” Minenis told Reuters. “The fire was immediate as we were turning over. We were being burned; fire was right and left.”

“As you understand, this is a terrifying process for parents and relatives who are here. We will help them as much as we can,” Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris told reporters on Wednesday outside a hospital in Larissa where many of the injured were transferred, 6 of whom are in intensive care. Most of those on board were believed to be university students returning from a long weekend.

“Our priority now is treating the injured, searching and finding missing people in the debris and offering psychological support to the relatives of the victims by psychologists who are heading to the Larissa city,” government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said.

The cargo train was en-route to Larissa from Thessaloniki.

“My thoughts are with the people of Greece,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.

“The whole of Europe is mourning with you. I also wish for a speedy recovery for all the injured.”

(Photo credit: Alexandros Avramidis | Reuters).