(CNN Philippines) — Authorities are looking at two possible reasons for the derailment of a Philippine National Railways train on Wednesday afternoon (April 29) — pilferage of the rail’s fastening system and rail expansion due to heat.
Residents in the area allegedly steal track materials, which are then sold for profit, Engineer Edwin Balongangay, division manager of PNR’s Engineering Department said.
The rail’s fastening system — which includes two fishplates and three track bolts — totals to about 16 kilos of metal.
If sold in the market, this will cost P235, equivalent to 5 kilos of rice.
Another cause of derailment that PNR is looking at is the heat, which expands and deforms the shape of the rails.
A PNR task force is also investigating the driver after reports of overspeeding were cited by some witnesses.
Taguig City police said that more than a hundred passengers were injured by the derailment.
But PNR said that it documented only 10 passengers who sustained only minor injuries.
Six of the 10 were brought to Taguig-Pateros District Hospital while the other four were given medical aid at PNR’s Nichols Station.
It said that it will shoulder the medical expenses of those injured by the derailment.
Coach retrieval
A crane arrived at 10:00 p.m. Wednesday to remove the derailed coaches.
PNR earlier said that two out of the three coaches are yet to be retrieved.
The retrieval takes about three hours per coach — a tasking job that includes the removal of all the accessories attached to each coach before it is finally lifted by a rail crane.
Twenty meters of damaged rails will also be replaced.
PNR said that regular train operations will not be disrupted but southbound and northbound trains will share the northbound rail track.
Normal operations is expected in two days.
CNN Philippines’ Yumi Lugod contributed to this report.
