“The truth they buried so hastily is ready to be revealed,” says Maria Karystianou, referring to the exhumation process of victims from the tragic Tempi railway disaster. Karystianou, president of the ‘Tempi 2023’ association, claims in a post dated October 4, 2025, that authorities plan exhumations solely for DNA testing—excluding toxicological and chemical analyses—and without the presence of technical advisors appointed by the families.
“They are prohibiting the exhumation from taking place with the participation of relatives’ technical experts—toxicologists and forensic doctors—and refusing to send samples to international labs,” she states. “Clearly, they are allergic to transparency and credibility. For us, this is the only guarantee that results won’t be tampered with, especially after their ongoing misconduct toward us and our deceased.”
In her detailed statement, Karystianou criticizes the initial response to the disaster, alleging that government-appointed forensic experts bypassed standard mass-fatality protocols, banned toxicology tests despite strong chemical odors and burn injuries, conducted rushed autopsies, and failed to list causes of death—potentially avoiding investigations into flammable substances.
She condemns the planned fast-tracked exhumations limited to DNA analysis, calling it a blatant sign of guilt. “After such a long time, only specific laboratories can properly analyze samples—without destroying them, ensuring accurate results, and detecting volatile chemicals. Imposing a flawed, fully controlled process is certainly not legal. Their cover-up has become routine.”
Karystianou insists that families and their experts must be present during exhumations and that samples must be tested in certified foreign laboratories. “Why should parents and their experts be absent from a process conducted under strict international protocols for transparency and credibility? We will not consent to this painful procedure unless these conditions are met.”