Published 15:09 IST, September 17th 2019
Hong Kong: Train derails near Hung Hom during rush hour, 8 injured
A passenger train in Hong Kong derailed during the morning rush hour on Sept 17 which forced the evacuation of 500 passengers and left eight people injured.
A passenger train in Hong Kong has derailed during the morning rush hour on September 17 which forced the evacuation of 500 passengers and left eight people injured. Images from the scene showed three coaches out of the track and were zig-zagged across the rails near Hung Hom station in Kowloon which is a busy interchange station that provides services to mainland China.
Passengers had to rush out of the train through a broken door and cross the tracks on the East Rail line to make their way to safety. According to the authorities, eight passengers were reported to be injured when they arrived at the concourse of the station. An investigation is being conducted to find out the cause of the derailment but there was no hint of foul play and no previous record of attacks by the pro-democracy protestors on the city's mass transit system.
Train services suspended
Frank Chan, the city's transport chief, said in a press conference that they will not leave a chance on any possibility but at this stage, they won't speculate on any particular suggestions. According to the MTR Corporation, the city's only rail firm said the train services between both the stations had to be suspended due to the accident. Hong Kong is seeing its fourth month of political unrest which has forced millions of young protestors to come out to the streets in the biggest challenge to China's rule since the city's handover from Britain in 1997. It sparked massive protests as all the demands of the protestors have not been fulfilled yet. The withdrawal of the extradition bill by the government sparked widespread protests which turned violent resulting in clashes between riot police and protestors.
MTR Corporation targeted by the protestors earlier
Earlier the MTR Corporation has been targeted by the protestors since the company refused to hand over the surveillance footage of the police using excessive force and beating the protestors brutally on a subway train. It resulted in angry protestors to vandalize the entrance barriers and ticket vending machines along with smashing windows at several stations.
Updated 17:02 IST, September 17th 2019