Strong rains derail Bicol-bound train in Quezon; 6 hurt

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LUCENA CITY—A Bicol-bound train was derailed in Sariaya, Quezon shortly after midnight Thursday after raging river currents caused a railway bridge to collapsed, the town police official said.

Henry Buzar, coordinator of Quezon-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said six train passengers suffered minor injuries and two others showing trauma of the accidents were rushed to the hospital.

Supt. Vilmor Manzano, Sariaya police chief, said three of five coaches of PNR train being operated by one Edwin Adversario felled on its left side as it was traversing the village of Canda at around 12:20 a.m.

Manzano said the foundation of the bridge in Canda river  collapsed after it was battered by strong currents after several hours of heavy rains that consequently also loosened the side of the railways.

“The train engine coach felled on its side and the two other coaches followed before it cross the bridge,” Manzano said over the phone.

Buzar, who immediately dispatched rescuers and medical team from the provincial government to the accident site, said the train carries 128 passengers based from the information provided by a train conductor.

Meanwhile, a long line of motorists were stranded Thursday midnight along the Maharlika Highway in the village of Sto. Cristo in Sariaya town due to flash flood.

Manzano said the raging floods caused by strong rains rendered the highway impassable for more than one hour.

Police said the floods easily subsided when the rain stopped.