'A nightmarish ten seconds'
The flames started right away. We were being scorched as we turned over. Right and left were ablaze. It was chaotic for ten to fifteen seconds.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
Those who survived the collision have provided descriptions of the explosion and their escape from the train.
Stergios Minenis told the Reuters news agency, "We heard a huge bang."
"It was ten terrifying seconds. Until we landed on our sides and the pandemonium subsided, the carriage was tipping over.
"There followed a frenzy. Fire and cables. The flames started right away. We were being scorched as we turned over. Right and left were ablaze. It was chaotic for ten to fifteen seconds.
"People screaming, windows breaking, things falling over, fires, cables hanging, and people stuck. What could we do when there was broken iron debris two meters beneath where we jumped to exit the train?"
