Kuala Lumpur train crash: More than 200 injured after smash in underground tunnel – World News
More than 200 people have been injured in Malaysia after two trains smashed into one another in a tunnel.
The collision occurred at around 8.45 p.m. (12.45 GMT) when one of the trains, which was empty after being repaired, collided head-on with another train.
The other train was on the same track and was carrying 213 passengers while travelling in the opposite direction, police chief Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said.
The crash left 47 people with serious injuries and 166 with minor ones.
There are no reports of any deaths so far.
Many were rushed to hospital for treatment while the less seriously injured were treated at the station by paramedics.
(Image: @bernamadotcom / Twitter)
The crash took place in a section of tunnel about 100 metres (330 feet) away from the KLCC station outside the Petronas towers in capital Kuala Lumpur.
“We are still investigating the incident…, but we suspect that perhaps there was a miscommunication from the trains’ operations control centre,” Mohamad Zainal said.
Videos and photos of the incident posted on social media showed several bleeding commuters and broken glass panels inside the trains.
(Image: @bernamadotcom / Twitter)
(Image: @bernamadotcom / Twitter)
People can be heard weeping in the background as they clutch their bodies in pain.
Other more graphic videos show people lying in the floor crying out in agony while blood pools in the aisle.
Some of the injured were taken off the train and out of the tunnel on stretchers carried by paramedics.
(Image: @bernamadotcom / Twitter)
(Image: @bernamadotcom / Twitter)
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered the Ministry of Transport to conduct a full investigation into the crash, Malay Mail reported.
“I view this accident seriously and have ordered the Ministry of Transport and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to carry out a full probe to identify the cause of this accident, and stern action needs to be taken immediately,” he said in a statement.
“I understood that security and emergency personnel are at the scene. Hopefully the rescue work goes smoothly and the passengers involved are safe, while those injured are given immediate treatment.
“Priority should now be given to the accident victims, and I have instructed all parties to cooperate fully to ensure the victims receive comprehensive treatment as we are also in the midst of a rising Covid-19 pandemic wave.”
