Kota Kinabalu-bound train hits excavator after derailing

KOTA KINABALU: A change of tracks nearly caused 130 people their lives as the train they were travelling in derailed and hit an excavator early Monday.

The train from Beaufort was heading to the Tanjung Aru train station when the accident happened at about 5.30am.

Following the mishap, passengers took a bus to continue their journey.

Beaufort district police chief Deputy Supt Mustaffa Maarof Mutaffa said a report over the incident has yet to be filed but that police were monitoring the area.

“We believe the train went off track because someone had switched the track line and forgot to put it back on,” he said.

The excavator is believed to have been “parked” by the side of the track by a contractor in charge of repairing damaged rails following last month’s floods.

Membakut and its surrounding areas were among the places hit hardest by the recent floods.

State Railway Department general manager Melvin Majanga is expected to issue a statement on the incident later in the day.