A train crash that injured more than 200 passengers in Malaysia was the result of an operator’s “carelessness,” a Malaysian official said Tuesday.
The mishap happened on Monday when two metro light rail trains collided in an underground tunnel close to the Petronas Twin Towers in the capital Kuala Lumpur, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 8.45 p.m. (1245 GMT) when one of the trains, which was empty after being repaired, collided head-on with another train carrying 213 passengers travelling in the opposite direction on the same track, district police chief Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said.
As per officials, the trains were not travelling fast at the time at the accident as one was going at 20 km per hour and the other at 40 km per hour.
They also said there was no sign of foul play and the accident appeared to have been caused by miscommunication.
According to Malaysian Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, 166 people suffered light injuries while 47 were seriously injured, adding that some of the injured were sent to the hospital.
He further added that the incident was the first of its kind in the LRT’s 23-year history, adding that a special panel will be formed to probe the collision.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on social media that the crash was ‘serious’.
“I have instructed the transport minister and (train) operator to conduct an in depth probe to find out the cause of the accident,” he said.
