By Aerol John Pateña/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Operations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) were suspended Sunday after two trains collided between the Cubao and Anonas stations the previous night.
“We will immediately resume our operations once the clearing operations and safety checks are completed at the revenue line,” Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Berroya ordered the creation of a fact-finding committee that would investigate the cause of the collision, make recommendations to prevent similar incidents, and assess the response and actions taken by the LRTA.
“We apologize for this unfortunate incident and rest assured that the LRTA will seriously look into it,” he added.
Two trains of LRT-2 collided between the Cubao and Anonas stations at about 9:51 p.m. Saturday, resulting in injury to 34 persons.
According to media reports, a train full of passengers that was bound for the Santolan station hit a train parked on the tracks. Some of the debris from the collision fell on the street below.
The injured were brought to the nearest hospitals after the incident. Most of them suffered minor injuries and were immediately released, while five were still being treated at the World Citi Medical Center and Quirino Medical Center.
The LRTA has assured it would shoulder their medical expenses and provide them the necessary assistance.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Berroya and other LRTA officials visited the injured passengers and LRT-2 employees at the World Citi Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and Manila Medical Center on Saturday night.
The incident was an isolated case, the LRTA said in a statement, adding that it was the first to occur since LRT-2 began operations in 2003.
For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website
