Shock and mourning for the seven PAOK supporters who were killed in the accident in Romania; the three injured are conscious

Seven dead, all PAOK supporters who were traveling to France in a tourist van, is the toll from the tragic accident following a head-on collision in the village of Lagoz, near Timișoara, Romania, as confirmed by our embassy in Bucharest.

At 17:00, a delegation from the embassy is heading to the site of the accident, which is located about seven hours away by road from the Romanian capital.

PAOK FC is calling for calm and responsibility at this time. The “black-and-white” club emphasizes that information which has not been confirmed and could cause panic or confusion should not be disseminated, especially at such a sensitive moment.

At the same time, it is made known that PAOK is in constant communication with the competent authorities, both at the Greek and European level, in order to obtain a clear picture of what has happened and the condition of those involved. From the club’s side it is stressed that any official update will be made only when there are reliable and cross-checked facts.

PAOK FC in coordination with the government and the Romanian authorities

PAOK FC is in direct communication with the competent government ministers, as well as with the Romanian authorities and the Greek embassy in Bucharest. The club is already taking care of the medical treatment of the injured, as well as the transfer of the bodies to Greece, and providing assistance to the relatives of those who were lost. Already, club officials are traveling to the area of the tragedy, together with a lawyer, in order to be able to address potential legal issues and to be effective in resolving any matters that may arise. A statement by Ivan Savvidis is also expected shortly.

What the Romanian police say about the tragedy

“In an attempt to return to his lane, he struck a tanker truck and then collided with a semi-truck (TIR), which was traveling in the opposite direction of traffic,” was the initial report by the Romanian authorities regarding the tragedy involving the van carrying PAOK supporters, according to the Romanian website Digi24.

The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, also made statements, confirming the existence of seven fatalities: “In the accident, as you know, multiple vehicles were involved, one of them a tanker truck, which was loaded with alcohol but, fortunately, without leaks, without particular problems from that standpoint; however, the result, unfortunately, is tragic, with seven deaths. There were requests and the intention was to send helicopters from Arad and Caransebeș, but the weather conditions did not allow it.”

Flags at half-mast at Toumba

PAOK flags are flying at half-mast outside the Toumba Stadium, as a sign of profound mourning for the untimely loss of the team’s supporters, who were traveling to Lyon to watch their beloved team.

The latest on the three injured

According to information, of the three injured, two are in more serious condition. One is miraculously much better and is the one who is communicating with the authorities and providing an account of what happened. All of them are conscious and have been transferred to the university hospital in Timișoara, where they will undergo CT scans of the spine.

What the Romanian police are investigating

The Romanian police have launched a criminal investigation into the offenses of homicide and causing bodily harm in order to clarify the circumstances under which the deadly accident occurred in the Timișoara area.

PAOK supporters return from Hungary to Timisoara to be close to the injured

From the moment the news from the Romanian media about the fatal traffic accident was confirmed, along with the deaths of seven PAOK supporters, the black-and-white community has been in a state of shock.

The same applies to the hundreds of fans of the Double-Headed Eagle who followed the same route as the ill-fated van but had set off earlier, and learned the tragic news after crossing the Hungarian border.

Flowers and candles outside Toumba for the seven dead

A bouquet of a few white roses, a PAOK scarf, and two lit candles beneath the team’s flag outside Toumba Stadium constitute a small but meaningful memorial for the seven supporters who were killed in Romania.

A woman who left the flowers said through tears that as soon as she learned the terrible news, she rushed to leave the flowers in memory of the supporters who were so unjustly lost on the asphalt. “As soon as I heard it, I came immediately. I grew up in this stadium,” she said tearfully.

Many residents pass by the spot, looking sadly at the improvised memorial, while the children who train at PAOK’s academies also pass by silently.

Condolences from PAOK BC with a statement by Mystakidis

“We are all deeply devastated by the tragic traffic accident in Romania that claimed the lives of our supporters. The kids were traveling to support our beloved team, PAOK. Instead of reaching France to see the team win, they lost their lives so unjustly and prematurely in the most tragic way.
We send our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to their families. We stand by them, as well as by those who were injured and are fighting their own battle, and we wish them strength and courage in these extremely difficult moments.
Telis Mystakidis”