Three men were killed during military exercises at the firing range of Glavyra in Magnesia, central Greece, at noon on Tuesday, after a mortar shell exploded. The accident  is currently being investigated whereas a three-day mourning period has been declared in the armed forces.

Two of the men were professional soldiers and a third was a draftee. 34-year-old Tasos Mezalas from Volos, 33-year-old Yiorgos Orphanidis from Serres and 19-year-old Fotis Andrikopoulos, a conscript from Patra, were the three young men who were killed while on duty. A second lieutenant, aged 30, was also injured.

The young men were taken to Larissa hospital for an autopsy that was completed by midnight on the day of the accident. The coroner said that death was instantaneous for all three men who suffered astounding wounds.

The funeral of the 19-year-old will be held at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday at the region of Achaia, whereas the funeral of the other two will be held in Volos, near the region where they were killed.

34-year-old Aanastasios Mezalas left behind a 25-year-old wife and a baby

33-year-old Yiorgos Orphanidis left behind a wife

19-year-old Fotis Andrikopoulos was a conscript whose father is a police officer. His military duty was soon to end.

Sources state that the fatal explosion had been preceded by other explosions. National Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said that the matter is still being investigated. “We are shocked from this accident,” he said. “Three brave young men were lost while on duty. Apart from our deep sorrow, at this time we stand by their families.”