(CNN Spanish) --
At least 36 people died and more than 85 were injured when two trains, one of them passenger, collided in northern Greece on Tuesday night, the country's Fire Service reported.
Vassilis Varthakogiannis, a spokesman for the fire department, told a televised briefing that a passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided with a freight train just before midnight local time in the Tempi area of central Greece, near the city of Larissa.
The passenger train was traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki.
Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris said that the process of identifying the victims is ongoing and there have been some difficulties in the process.
"We have begun the process of identifying the dead. As you understand, this is a terrifying process for the parents and family members who are here. We will help you as much as we can."
As of early Wednesday, following the crash, the rescue team was in the process of identifying the fatalities from the crash, Varthakogiannis said in an updated report.
According to him, 150 firefighters and first responders are working at the accident site.
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66 people are being treated at the hospital, with six in intensive care units.
Take a look at some of the shocking images left by the accident.
An accident site, where two trains collided, is seen near the city of Larissa, Greece, on March 1, 2023. (Credit: REUTERS/Giannis Floulis)
This aerial drone photo taken on March 1, 2023 shows emergency crews searching for wreckage after a train crash in the Tempi Valley near Larissa, Greece. (Credit: Vasilis VERVERIDIS/Eurokinissi/motionteam/AFP)
The collision follows a national carnival weekend which ended with a public holiday on Monday.
A spokesman for the fire services confirmed that three carriages skidded off the tracks just before midnight after the trains, one freight and one carrying 350 passengers, collided halfway on the route between Athens and Thessaloniki. (Photo by VASILIS VERVERIDIS/Eurokinissi/motionteam/AFP via Getty Images)SAKIS MITROLIDIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Search and rescue teams work in the accident area to search for survivors and identify the deceased.
(Credit: SAKIS MITROLIDIS/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo: TRINGER/SOOC/SOOC via AFP)
Passengers rescued from the accident arrive at the area of Evangelismos de Larissa.
(Credit: KONSTANTINOS TSAKALIDIS/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images)
In this photo you see the accident site shows the head-on collision of the two trains.
(Credit: STRINGER/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images)
Passengers described moments of panic during the accident.
(STRINGER / SOOC / SOOC via AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images)
At least 150 firefighters with 17 vehicles plus 20 ambulances are involved in the ongoing recovery efforts, authorities said.
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