Fire halts LRT-2 operations
MANILA, Philippines — The Light Rail Transit Line 2—which runs along five cities in Metro Manila—temporarily halted its operations after a fire broke out between Katipunan and Anonas stations.
This came a day after a power supply problem disrupted the operations of LRT-2.
The LRT-2 management said the fire was caused by the “tripping off” of rectifier substation 5 located at Katipunan Station.
“As of writing, the cause of this incident is still being investigated upon,” it said.
The fire has been contained, train authorities added. But the line’s operations are still temporarily suspended.
On Wednesday morning, LRT-2 trains stopped running after lightning struck the rail line’s Gilmore Station and power transformers at the J. Ruiz and Cubao stations “tripped and disrupted the system’s power supply.”
Rasheed Bantuan, who took a video of the fire when it broke out, said the blaze happened near a gasoline station.
"Around 11:15 a.m. nagsimula yung apoy pagkadaan ng LRT may pumutok then yun nagsimula na sumiklab yung mga poste ng LRT at wire," Bantuan told Philstar.com, adding that firefighters quickly arrived around five minutes after the fire started.
"Scary kasi nasa baba mismo ng umaapoy na area ng LRT is gasoline station kaya tinigil lahat ng daloy ng trapiko," Bantuan added.
LRT-2 ferries close to 200,000 passengers daily. The train line’s western terminus is Recto Station in Manila, while its eastern terminus is Santolan Station in Pasig.
A power supply problem Thursday also stalled operations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3. At least 508 passengers were forced to walk along the railroad tracks between Ayala and Taft Avenue stations.
LRT-1, too
Balintawak and Roosevelt stations of the Light Rail Transit 1 were closed until before 2 p.m. Wednesday after the line experienced a “mechanical issue.”
Only the Monumento to Baclaran stations were operational during the temporary suspension of operations.
“We are now fully operational from Roosevelt to Baclaran station. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” the LRT-1 management said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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