Greek protesters take to streets following deadly train crash

Greek protesters have taken to the streets, calling for prompt action to find out the cause of a train crash that has killed at least 46 people.

A passenger train and a freight train crashed head-on in the town of Tempe in central Greece on Tuesday.

Local authorities fear the death toll could rise as search operations continue. Media reported the passenger train carried about 350 people.

Reuters news agency says many of the victims were thought to be university students returning home after a long holiday weekend.

The cause of the crash is not known, but Greek media say operational and other systems had not been functioning properly.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said everything about the tragedy points, unfortunately, to mainly human error.

In the capital Athens, protesters rallied in front of offices of a railway operator on Wednesday. They demanded that authorities launch an investigation immediately and refrain from hiding any facts.

Police dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas after some became violent and threw stones at them.