The death toll from a train crash in northern Greece climbed to 38 from with at least 15 people still missing, media reports said Wednesday.

At least 72 injured passengers were hospitalized, according to state-run news agency, AMNA.

Fifty-seven, including six in intensive care units, are under treatment at nearby hospitals, it said.

It noted that the victims include nine railway employees and university students returning to school in the northern port city of Thessaloniki from Larissa and Athens.

Search and rescue teams are working to pull survivors from the wreckage with the aid of at least two cranes, which are being used to remove passenger carriages.

Ambulances and fire engines are also on site and psychologists were sent to the Larissa General Hospital to provide support to the families of the victims and passengers.

Nikos Sguris, one of the rescuers, told Anadolu that there are two major reasons behind the high death toll.

First, both trains were moving at a fast speed, and second, the fire was further fueled by cooking oil stored in the restaurant area.

Another volunteer rescuer, Vasilis Iliopoulos, maintained that it is unlikely anyone will come out alive from the wreckage.

CURRENTPH NEWS SERVICE