A Philippine commuter train rammed through a concrete barrier at the end of the rail line and rolled into a busy intersection today, injuring at least 34 people and damaging two vehicles on the street.
Rescuers removed injured passengers from the train's front car after the accident in Pasay city in metropolitan Manila. It caused a huge traffic jam, but the train stayed upright after smashing through the barrier, likely avoiding a more serious accident with fatalities.
At least 34 people were brought to hospitals with mostly minor injuries, Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said. Most suffered bruises, though one had a broken arm and another had a dislocated joint.
The train had lost power due to a technical problem and was being pushed by another train when it detached and rolled out of control at the final station on the line, said Hernando Cabrera, spokesman of the agency that operates the train system.
Abaya said the procedure would have been for the stalled train to be pushed at 15 kilometres per hour but after it detached it was apparently moving faster because the steel "stopper" at the end of the line was unable to block it. The lead train car pushed the barrier about 50 meters from its original position.
Abaya said the drivers of the two trains will be investigated by the police and his department will create a separate investigating body.
"I don't offer any excuse for this," he told TV5 television. "We will find out what happened and we will be transparent and explain it to the public."
Senior Superintendent Florencio Ortilla, who heads the Pasay city police, said the train toppled a concrete post and pushed a portion of the railway track out into the crowded intersection.
Many passengers were hurled toward the front of the train, police said.
