Worst Train Accident In Taiwan, Minister Of Transportation And Construction Manager Take Responsibility

Train accident in Taiwan. (Twitter/@Meharahmedkhan)

JAKARTA - Myanmar's Transport Minister Lin Chia-lung and construction site manager Lee Yi-Hsiang took responsibility for the worst train accident in Taiwan, which killed 50 people on Friday, April 2.

Lin, speaking at the scene of the accident, said he would not avoid responsibility for the incident.

"I am also tasked with minimizing the damage caused by the entire accident. After all the rescue work is completed, I can assure you, I will take responsibility," he said.

Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang's office said Lin had made a verbal offer to resign on Saturday, but Su refused for the time being. Su said that currently the focus is focused on saving and restoring the situation.

Meanwhile, construction manager Lee Yi-Hsiang also said he was ready to take responsibility for this incident. It is known that the truck at the construction site under Lee was allegedly not parked properly, so it slid onto the railroad tracks right in front of the tunnel and caused this train accident.

Authorities are investigating Lee. He has been released on bail, although the Hualien branch of the high court on Sunday overturned the decision after prosecutors appealed, sending the case back to a lower court.

Lee read out a statement apologizing for what happened when the police took him away from his residence, Taiwanese media reported.

"I deeply regret this and convey my deepest apologies. I will definitely cooperate with the prosecution and police in the investigation, accept the responsibility it must bear, and never neglect. Finally, I once again express my sincere apologies," said Lee.

It is known that as many as 50 people died in the accident of an express train carrying nearly 500 passengers and crew on Friday, April 2 as a result of hitting a truck while exiting a tunnel near the eastern city of Hualien, Taiwan.

The apparatus and authorities are still carrying out efforts to evacuate the train from the tunnel and look for other victims. The Taiwan government revised the death toll until Sunday evening, from 51 to 50.

The worst accident in seven decades has left the Ministry of Transportation and Railways Administration under him facing questions and criticism. Including the question of the guardrail at the accident site and the possibility of selling too many standing tickets.

Earlier, Deputy Transport Minister Wang Kwo-Tsai said on Saturday night, the rail administration needs to pay attention to all these issues.

The government has promised compensation and said it will do everything it can to help the victims and their relatives. Meanwhile, the damaged section of the line will not be reopened at the earliest until April 20.

However, this accident will not affect the operation of the train which continues on the parallel line, by utilizing other tunnels.