Train fire, hundreds of passengers evacuated in panic
Train NH1 from Hue to Nha Trang, traveling through Phu Yen, suddenly caught fire in one carriage, forcing hundreds of passengers in five carriages to evacuate.
At around 5:30 a.m. on June 6, train NH1 (Hue - Nha Trang route) was approaching Hao Son station (Phu Yen province) when car number 3 suddenly caught fire. Smoke billowed out, causing passengers to panic and pack their luggage and report to the staff.
"I heard a loud explosion so I ran over to check. Fire and smoke were coming from the electrical system in the section between car 3 and car 4," said a male passenger in car 4.
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People and passengers watch the fire fighting. Photo:Nguyen Dong. |
The train stopped at Hao Son station. The staff opened the doors to let passengers out and used fire extinguishers on site to put out the fire. However, due to the large amount of smoke, the railway staff had to use a hammer to break the glass door and connect a water hose to spray water inside.The joint between cars 3 and 4 was removed to control the fire.
About 200 passengers in cars one through five had to be evacuated from the train. Among them were a group of about 30 students, two foreign tourists and several children. Many people were bewildered, not understanding what was happening.
"There was a fire in the train car but the railway staff did not inform my students or guide them to escape," an indignant teacher said.
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Car No. 3 was removed from the train to handle the problem. Photo:Nguyen Dong. |
Meanwhile, railway staff continued to control the fire and put it out at 6am, before the fire department arrived. Car No. 3 was then cut apart, many pieces of glass were smashed, and black smoke covered the wall of the car near the joint. Some railway staff suffered minor injuries during the fire fighting process. Passengers were safe.
The train changed tracks connecting car 2 and car 1. Passengers in car 3 were transferred to other cars and the train continued its journey at 7:00.
The crew on the train then made an announcement over the loudspeaker and apologized to the passengers for the fire fighting that had affected them, and said the cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit.
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Broken glass, door in car 3 was covered in black smoke after the fire. Photo:Nguyen Dong. |
Because the fire occurred when train NH1 was at the Hoa Son station section with three tracks, the North-South railway line was less affected.
