2 MEN IN HOSPITAL AFTER LOCOMOTIVE FIRE
Two men were rushed to the Lautoka Hospital after the sugarcane locomotive they were operating caught fire yesterday.
An eyewitness, who lives near the tram line where the incident happened said the two men, who suffered partial burns, managed to jump off the burning train. “Fortunately a member of the public rushed the two men to the hospital in his private car,” said the witness who spoke on anonymity.
“I saw the locomotive carrying more than 10 carriages of sugarcane along Vitogo heading to the Lautoka mill.”
He was able to see the locomotive engulfed in flames.
“A portion of the sugarcane locomotive was dislodged from the main body in the first few minutes of the incident,” he said.
“The incident happened at around 1pm and there was so much smoke for about 15 to 20 minutes before the flames covered the train.” “One part of the engine separated at least 200 metres from where the locomotive stopped,” he said.
“Luckily, the firefighters arrived 25 minutes later to put the fire out and prevent it from spreading further,” he said.
Fiji Sugar Corporation chief executive officer Graham Clark said investigations were underway. “We’re doing the investigation now and we will issue a statement tomorrow (today) and we cannot comment until tomorrow (today),” he said.
National Fire Authority chief officer, Qionilau Moceitai, said they were yet to receive a report from the Lautoka Fire Station.
Edited by Percy Kean
A portion of the sugarcane locomotive was dislodged from the main body in the first few minutes of the incident. eyewitness