Number of injured in Joo Koon train collision rises to 36, including 6 M’sians
On Wednesday morning (Nov 15), two trains collided at the Joo Koon MRT station, resulting in injuries to 27 commuters and two SMRT staff. Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY
SINGAPORE – The number of commuters injured in the Joo Koon train collision rose to 36 by Thursday (Nov 16) evening, according to an update from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT.
There were six new walk-in cases – one at National University Hospital (NUH) who has since returned home, and five at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) – and another was conveyed to NTFGH by ambulance and is being treated, as at 6pm on Thursday.
The three injured who were warded for observation following the Wednesday morning incident remain in the care of the hospitals, LTA and SMRT added.
Among the injured commuters are six Malaysians, Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
Without giving details on the injuries suffered by the Malaysian commuters, the ministry’s press release said: “The High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore is working closely with local authorities to monitor and obtain further updates on the incident.”
“Malaysians involved in this incident and require consular assistance are advised to contact the High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore,” the ministry added.
The incident, which took place at 8.20am on Wednesday, is Singapore’s second major train collision. A faulty train transiting between the old and new signalling systems has been identified as the cause of the collision. There were 517 passengers on board a slow-moving train, which hit a stationary train at the station.
A total of 36 people, including two SMRT staff, were injured as a result of the collision. Most of them have been discharged after receiving treatment at the NTFGH and NUH.
Train services between Joo Koon and Tuas Link MRT stations were suspended for a day on Thursday to allow signalling system supplier Thales to conduct checks. However, in an update before 10pm Thursday, the LTA announced that train services between the two stations will remain closed through Sunday. It added that from Monday, there will be no train service between Joo Koon and Gul Circle for up to a month, while work on the signalling system is carried out.
When TODAY visited the Joo Koon and Jurong East MRT stations on Thursday morning, there were no unexpected congestion or crowds for train services along the western part of the East-West Line.
A steady stream of buses providing bridging services from Joo Koon MRT station to Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link was seen at exit B of the train station.
