MRT-3 passengers injured, emotional after fire in train car

Passengers of a Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) train sustained minor injuries after a fire broke out in one of the cars on Sunday.

They reported some panic, however, as smoke filled the car and they were initially unable to get out.

"Ayaw magpababa nung driver. Wala daw lalabas, walang magbubukas ng pinto," said a passenger in a report by Jam Sisante on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend."

"Medyo panicked na siyempre yung tao; may mga bata kaming kasama. Sabi namin kailangan naming bumaba kasi nga may usok na eh," she added.

"'Yung mga kasamahan ko nag-iyakan po tapos binuksan 'yung bintana kasi po yung usok ang kapal sa amin," said another rider.

A teary-eyed Marilou Tinapunan, 55, showed a wound she sustained on her leg after she had to alight the car.

"Talon. Mataas masyado 'yung [tren], walang hagdanan. Nagtalon ako, tapog nahulog ako paupo," she said.

The northbound train caught fire upon reaching the Nepa Q-Mart area at about 10:20 a.m., prompting the operator to unload the passengers on the northbound tracks between the Cubao and Kamuning stations.

The MRT-3 management said that no passengers needed to be brought to the hospital. It also apologized for the incident.

"Gusto pong humingi ng paumanhin ang management. Ginagawa ng management ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya to assure iyong riding public ng safe and secure na biyahe," Hebert Joson of the rail's corporate communications department said.

"Iyong driver, sinubukan niyang on his own na malaman kung ano, kaya hindi siya agad nagbigay ng signal na mag-alight. Ang protocol po sana, is if kaya, ibaba on the station kasi mas safe po," he added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News