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Sabotage ruled out in Taiwan train crash
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
April 29, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AN investigation into Wednesday's fatal train crash in Taiwan has found that a tree branch which fell on the rear carriage broke off because of decay and not as the result of sabotage.
The train overturned in Taiwan's Ali Mountain area, killing five tourists from the Chinese mainland and injuring more than 100 others.
Sources said a large branch hit the rear carriage and caused several other carriages to overturn.
An investigation by four forestry experts found that the branch fell because of structural damage to the tree, and was not the work of saboteurs, according to a report by the island's forestry department.
Part of the trunk of the tree that was estimated at nearly 100 years old was found to have decayed, and there were traces of termites inside. It was hard to see the decay from the outside, they said.
Local regulations state that railways such as the narrow gauge Ali Mountain tourist rail line should be located at least 5 meters from surrounding trees. The track where the accident occurred is 8 meters from the nearest treeline, Chen Wu-hsiung, head of Taiwan's agricultural authority, told a press conference.
However, the island's forestry and railway authorities will continue to investigate the incident and make recommendations for improving railway safety standards, Chen said.
By late yesterday, 43 injured mainland tourists had been discharged from hospital, while 66 others were still receiving treatment.
Taiwan's Ali Mountain area is a popular destination for mainland tourists.
Another train accident in the area eight years ago killed 17 people and injured more than 100 others.
The train overturned in Taiwan's Ali Mountain area, killing five tourists from the Chinese mainland and injuring more than 100 others.
Sources said a large branch hit the rear carriage and caused several other carriages to overturn.
An investigation by four forestry experts found that the branch fell because of structural damage to the tree, and was not the work of saboteurs, according to a report by the island's forestry department.
Part of the trunk of the tree that was estimated at nearly 100 years old was found to have decayed, and there were traces of termites inside. It was hard to see the decay from the outside, they said.
Local regulations state that railways such as the narrow gauge Ali Mountain tourist rail line should be located at least 5 meters from surrounding trees. The track where the accident occurred is 8 meters from the nearest treeline, Chen Wu-hsiung, head of Taiwan's agricultural authority, told a press conference.
However, the island's forestry and railway authorities will continue to investigate the incident and make recommendations for improving railway safety standards, Chen said.
By late yesterday, 43 injured mainland tourists had been discharged from hospital, while 66 others were still receiving treatment.
Taiwan's Ali Mountain area is a popular destination for mainland tourists.
Another train accident in the area eight years ago killed 17 people and injured more than 100 others.
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