MRT runs now back to normal
The MRT Guadalupe station where an unidentified man jumped onto its tracks early Wednesday, May 8, 2013, forcing authorities to temporarily halt operations and forcing passengers to walk on the side of the railway to the next station. ERWIN LOMIBAO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Train runs of the Metro Rail Transit Authority are back to normal after being stalled for hours due to a suicide incident early Wednesday morning.
MRT operations were suspended in several stations after a still unidentified man suddenly jumped onto the northbound railway of the MRT Guadalupe station in front of an oncoming train at 8:18 a.m.
Affected passengers were forced to get off the coaches and walk at the side of the railway to get to the nearest station.
Traffic flow along Edsa-Guadalupe also got stalled due to the volume of passengers descending from the station.
The Department of Transportation and Communications said train runs resumed at 11:30 a.m. after a disruption of three-and-a-half hours.
The MRT, running on Edsa from Taft Avenue to North Avenue, carries 540,000 passengers a day.
The man, estimated to be from 20 to 30 years old, was dragged for another 30 meters by the train, Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban, Makati police chief earlier said.
The man was seen wearing a dark maong short pants and a light blue T-shirt.
A radio report quoted MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol as saying that the actual jumping of the man was caught on tape by a security camera. Police are investigating the incident, he added.
The report also said the body was pulled out from under one of the coaches around 11:15 a.m.
The body was taken to the Veronica Funeral Homes in Pasay City. With report by Miguel R. Camus, Philippine Daily Inquirer
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