34 injured as 2 trains collide in Philippines

At least 34 people were injured when a "runaway" train rammed into another train late on Saturday night in Metro Manila of the Philippines, a spokesperson for the train authority said on Sunday.

Workers of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) recover debris after two train coaches collided in Metro Manila, Philippines, 19 May 2019. [Photo: IC]

Manila Light Rail Transit Authority spokesperson Hernando Cabrera told a news conference early Sunday that the accident occurred 9:51 p.m. local time between the Anonas and Araneta Center Cubao Stations in Metro Manila.

The accident forced the train authority to suspend operation between the two stations on Sunday morning as the damaged trains were removed and the track cleared of any debris.

According to Cabrera, the runaway train that slammed into another train malfunctioned on Saturday afternoon, prompting train operators to park it on a pocket track between the two stations for towing.

But for a still unknown reason, he said, the non-functioning train moved, rolled onto the eastbound tracks and started moving towards Cubao station, into the path of an oncoming train in the opposite direction.

Two train coaches (top) sit on an elevated track after they collided in Metro Manila, Philippines, 19 May 2019. [Photo: IC]

The driver of the train in the opposite direction was ordered to stop, and the passengers were told to brace for impact, Cabrera said.

Light Rail Transit Authority has already launched an investigation to determine why the parked train rolled out of the pocket track despite all its system was off.

Already, he said a fact-finding team was formed to determine the cause of the mishap. "We expect a report in two to three days," Cabrera said.

At the same news conference, Light Rail Transit Authority Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said passengers sustained minor injuries. He added the train company will pay for the medical expenses of the injured.

According to Light Rail Transit Authority on Sunday morning that only five of the 34 injured people remained at hospitals and most of the injured were released early on Sunday morning.

The Light Rail Transit System Line 2, which started operations in 2003, is a rapid transit line in Metro Manila of the Philippines, and it serves 11 stations on a 13.8-km line.