By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, (PNA) — At least 38 persons were injured in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that rammed into a barrier at the MRT EDSA-Taft station on Wednesday afternoon.
As of 8 p.m., 25 injured people were rushed to the Pasay City General Hospital.
Dr. Noel Lo of the Pasay City General Hospital said of the total number of injured persons brought there, a man suffered fracture on his foot while the others have lacerations on their bodies.
He added the eldest among the injured people is a 60-year-old woman.
Meanwhile, in San Juan de Dios Hospital, 10 individuals were admitted and three at the Seventh Adventist Medical Center, formerly Manila Sanitarium Hospital, who are now being treated due to physical injuries.
According to Marlon Lopez, member of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) rescue team, the victims suffered minor injuries, most of them are complaining back and chest pains, and abrasions in their hands and body.
Meanwhile, MMDA said in its Twitter account, the traffic situation was moderate to heavy along EDSA southbound towards Taft Ave. in Pasay.
Atty. Hernando Cabrera, MRT spokesman, said the incident took place at around 3:30 p.m. after one of the coaches of MRT suddenly stopped meters away from EDSA-Taft MRT station.
He said the coach, for still unclear reason went powerless, and stopped after coming from Magallanes MRT station south bound before the last station which is the EDSA-Taft.
He said the coach that conked out was being pushed by another coach when the coupling that was supposed to link them gave way. As such, the first coach rammed into the stopper and barrier of the MRT EDSA-Taft station.