Train malfunctions and delays are common in Manila, but this one was on another level.
The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the government-owned operator of the LRT-2 is now investigating the collision that occurred between two trains on the tracks between two Quezon City stations on Saturday night. According to reports, the incident injured 34 people.
“We apologize for this unfortunate incident and rest assured that LRTA will seriously look into it,” LRTA Administrator Gen. Reynaldo I. Berroya said in a statement yesterday.
The statement says that Berroya has formed a fact-finding committee to find out what occurred, figure out ways to ensure that it won’t happen again, and assess the LRTA’s response to the incident.
The collision occurred between a parked train that reportedly moved by itself and a moving train on the eastbound track en route to the Santolan station in Pasig City at around 9:51pm on Saturday, LRTA Spokesman Hernando Cabrera told ANC.
The incident left 34 people injured, including 30 passengers and four LRT-2 employees. According to the LRTA, most sustained minor injuries and were brought to the nearest hospital but five were still checked in and being treated at the World City Medical Center and Quirino Memorial Medical Center as of yesterday morning. One victim suffered from a dislocated shoulder, while another got a sprained arm.
Passenger Ahya Lopez said in a Facebook post that the incident left her anxious and scared.
The LRTA said that it will cover the medical expenses of all the victims. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and other officials also reportedly visited the injured passengers and employees in the hospitals.
The LRT-2’s operations were interrupted because of the incident but eventually resumed at 10:47am yesterday, The Philippine Star reported.
