Taiwan’s transport minister said that he would not shirk his responsibility for a deadly train crash even as he rejected it. His resignation offer amid growing questions over safety lapses that could have contributed to the disaster.
In the island’s worst rail accident in seven decades, 51 people have been confirmed dead after a packed express train slammed into a truck near the eastern city of Hualien on Friday, causing it to derail and the front part to crumble.
Speaking at the crash site overlooking the ocean and backed by precipitous mountains, Lin Chia-lung said he would “not avoid” responsibility.
“I am also in charge of minimizing the damage caused by the entire accident. He will take responsibility when the whole rescue work is completed.
Premier Su Tseng-chang’s office said Lin had made a verbal offer to resign on Saturday, but Su rejected it, for the time being, saying efforts, for now, should focus on rescue and recovery.
The truck that the train hit had slid down a sloping road onto the track just outside a tunnel. Officials are investigating the construction site manager, Lee Yi-Hsiang, whose truck is suspected of not having its brakes properly applied.
Lee had been released on bail, though the high court’s Hualien branch on Sunday rescinded that decision after the prosecutors appealed it, sending the case back to the lower court.
Lee read out a statement apologizing for what happened as police took him away from his residence on Sunday, Taiwan media reported.
“I deeply regret this and express my deepest apologies,” he said. “I will definitely cooperate with the prosecutors and police in the investigation, accept the responsibility that s should bear, and never shirk it. Finally, I once again express my sincerest apologies.”
The transport ministry, and the rail administration, which comes under it, are facing scrutiny over several questions, including why there was no proper fencing at the site and whether sold to sold too many standing-only tickets.
Deputy transport minister Wang Kwo-Tsai said late on Saturday the railway administration needed to take a hard look at all these issues, adding that his personal feeling was that “initially it looks like negligence” on the building site contractor.
The railway administration is also without a permanent director after its former chief retired in January. The position is being filled in an acting capacity by another deputy transport minister, Chi-Wen-Chung.
Wang said Lin was working hard to find the right person to fill the job.
‘Daughter’s voice became quieter and quieter.’
The uncle of the youngest confirmed victim, a five-year-old girl, tearfully told reporters he was still waiting for an apology for the accident.
Government:
The government has promised compensation and will do everything it can to help survivors and their relatives. The damaged section of the track will not reopen until April 20 at the earliest. Wang said though rail traffic continues on a parallel track. That ran through another tunnel and was not affected by accident.
Minister Lin said rescue and recovery work would continue. “We continue to pull out the cabins stuck inside. The third cabin was dragged out last night. We expect to pull out two other cabins today,” he added.
At the start of a long weekend for the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day. The accident occurred when people return home to tend to family graves. Survivors have described horrible scenes inside the wreck.
Priest Sung Chih-Chiang told Reuters what surviving passenger Chung Hui-mei had told him. She found her daughter was under the steel panels. She put her effort into moving those pieces one by one. But her daughter’s voice became quieter, and then there was no response,” he said.