Human Error More Plausible Than Tech Error in MRT Mishap – DOTC Chief

Manila (PNA) — Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has said that human error was more plausible than technical error as the cause of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 mishap at its Pasay City station in Pasay City Wednesday afternoon.

An MRT train crashed through a station wall on Taft Ave. station a few minutes past 3 p.m. after experiencing a brief power outage.

Early reports said that over 30 passengers were injured. They were brought immediately to nearby hospitals. The DOTC and MRT management vowed to offer medical assistance to them.

In an interview with reporters, Abaya said there was a possibility that the standard operating procedure was not followed, causing one of the MRT trains to crash against a wall at the Taft Ave. station.

Abaya added that the MRT management is currently investigating if there were procedural lapses.

He also apologized for the accident, saying that he had “no excuses” for it happening.

The DOTC chief said the MRT has recordings and a black box where information is stored to see if the procedures were followed and to check the train’s speed.

The recordings and black box will be available to the media on Thursday, he said. (PNA) SCS/ANP

(PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) LAM/ACD