24 injured as escalator goes into reverse
By Zhang Xuanchen and Xu Fang |
December 15, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A PREGNANT woman was among 24 people injured when an up escalator at a Metro station suddenly slid into reverse during morning rush hour in south China's Shenzhen City yesterday.
The injured are being treated in three hospitals and all were in a stable condition last night, Sznews.com, Shenzhen's official news website, reported.
Most received stitches for minor cuts while it is believed that three might need surgery for leg injuries.
The pregnant woman, surnamed Gong, is under observation in Luohu Hospital. Doctors said her baby was unaffected and the mother only suffered grazes to her hands, Sznews.com reported.
A passenger who saw the accident said some of the injured had lost teeth when they fell on to the platform.
About 80 passengers were on the escalator heading to an upper platform near the exit of the Guomao station of Metro Line 1 at about 8:50am when it suddenly it started to roll backward, a Metro company spokeswoman said.
"We had no preparations for the sudden change. Some people lower down tried to climb up but they were soon buried by the people above them falling," said a passenger who was unhurt.
One of the injured, surnamed Huang, said that the escalator slid back at almost double its normal speed making it impossible to react quickly.
Huang said the wounded were left lying on the platform for nearly 20 minutes before station staff came to help them to a station hall. They were transported to the three hospitals about half an hour after the accident.
The Shenzhen Metro Co issued a public apology yesterday afternoon and vowed to identify the cause of the accident. The company said it would inspect staff operations and the condition of the escalator.
The escalator was closed but subway services were not affected.
It was the first accident of its kind since the Shenzhen subway went into service in 2004, said the metro company.
In Shanghai, there were two similar incidents at Xinzhuang station on Metro Line 1 in September and November of 2003 with more than 20 passengers injured when escalators also reversed themselves.
The Shanghai Shentong Metro Group has strengthened its maintenance of escalators ever since.
Shentong official Lan Tian said that escalators were maintained regularly and parts replaced quickly if any problems were found.
"Our equipment can uncover escalator problems before they break down, and we can call repairers for maintenance," he said.
Meanwhile, department stores in the city will also pay extra attention to escalator safety as they are required to do with the busy sales peak before the Spring Festival approaching.
Shanghai's Printemps Department Store said it would be adding more security guards to guide consumers and escalators would be subject to maintenance before and after business every day.
The injured are being treated in three hospitals and all were in a stable condition last night, Sznews.com, Shenzhen's official news website, reported.
Most received stitches for minor cuts while it is believed that three might need surgery for leg injuries.
The pregnant woman, surnamed Gong, is under observation in Luohu Hospital. Doctors said her baby was unaffected and the mother only suffered grazes to her hands, Sznews.com reported.
A passenger who saw the accident said some of the injured had lost teeth when they fell on to the platform.
About 80 passengers were on the escalator heading to an upper platform near the exit of the Guomao station of Metro Line 1 at about 8:50am when it suddenly it started to roll backward, a Metro company spokeswoman said.
"We had no preparations for the sudden change. Some people lower down tried to climb up but they were soon buried by the people above them falling," said a passenger who was unhurt.
One of the injured, surnamed Huang, said that the escalator slid back at almost double its normal speed making it impossible to react quickly.
Huang said the wounded were left lying on the platform for nearly 20 minutes before station staff came to help them to a station hall. They were transported to the three hospitals about half an hour after the accident.
The Shenzhen Metro Co issued a public apology yesterday afternoon and vowed to identify the cause of the accident. The company said it would inspect staff operations and the condition of the escalator.
The escalator was closed but subway services were not affected.
It was the first accident of its kind since the Shenzhen subway went into service in 2004, said the metro company.
In Shanghai, there were two similar incidents at Xinzhuang station on Metro Line 1 in September and November of 2003 with more than 20 passengers injured when escalators also reversed themselves.
The Shanghai Shentong Metro Group has strengthened its maintenance of escalators ever since.
Shentong official Lan Tian said that escalators were maintained regularly and parts replaced quickly if any problems were found.
"Our equipment can uncover escalator problems before they break down, and we can call repairers for maintenance," he said.
Meanwhile, department stores in the city will also pay extra attention to escalator safety as they are required to do with the busy sales peak before the Spring Festival approaching.
Shanghai's Printemps Department Store said it would be adding more security guards to guide consumers and escalators would be subject to maintenance before and after business every day.
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