One dead after Washington subway fills with smoke

[webfact]

UNITED STATES
One dead after Washington subway fills with smoke
Agence France Presse


Photo : AFP

WASHINGTON: -- A woman died after thick smoke filled a subway tunnel in the US capital Monday during the evening rush, officials said.

A spokeswoman for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) confirmed the incident, which caused rush-hour mayhem in the nation’s second-busiest mass transit system after New York.

The Washington Post reported that several people were taken to hospital, including two with critical injuries.

Smoke filled the L’Enfant Plaza subway station in the centre of the city, forcing the evacuation of startled passengers and forcing afternoon rush-hour commuters to find other ways to get home.

Emergency workers escorted smoke inhalation victims to medical aid buses to receive oxygen.

WMATA said on its website that the "source of the smoke has not been determined" and that the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation.

Photos posted on social media showed passengers crammed into smoke-filled trains covering their mouths and eyes, while the subway tunnel was engulfed with thick gray fog.

The station was temporarily closed. Service on two of the main city lines was partially suspended.

WMATA said emergency crews were deployed and that the station was being aired out.

"Metro Transit Police and fire department personnel are on scene at L’Enfant Plaza for smoke in the station," the metro system said on its website.

"Metro has activated tunnel fans to ventilate the area."

The station is near several government buildings, office complexes and restaurants.

Washington’s Metro system serves five million people in a 1,500-square-mile (3,885-square,kilometre) area, which includes transport to neighboring Virginia and Maryland states.

The trains and buses provide about 2.3 million trips per year, according to WMATA.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/One-dead-after-Washington-subway-fills-with-smoke-30251793.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-13

[SOTIRIOS]

...please don't rush to target someone of middle eastern origin.....

...it used to be the 'Indians'.....then the 'Asians'......then the Germans.....then the 'Asians' again...then the 'Russians'.....now it's 'Arabs'...

...my how we've grown.....

[Jingthing]

...please don't rush to target someone of middle eastern origin.....

...it used to be the 'Indians'.....then the 'Asians'......then the Germans.....then the 'Asians' again...then the 'Russians'.....now it's 'Arabs'...

...my how we've grown.....

What are you on about?

Nobody said this was a terror event.

In case you didn't get the memo -- IT WASN'T.

At least 2 people riding the Metro railcars near L’Enfant Plaza remain critical. NTSB said an electrical problem was to blame.

Washington Post

Edited January 13, 2015 by Jingthing

[CMNightRider]

...please don't rush to target someone of middle eastern origin.....

...it used to be the 'Indians'.....then the 'Asians'......then the Germans.....then the 'Asians' again...then the 'Russians'.....now it's 'Arabs'...

...my how we've grown.....

Well, if this was some sort of attack and not an accident, I think one could safely rule out the "indians, Asians, Germans, and Russians." My guess is either middle eastern or some Muslim convert who thinks anyone who isn't a Muslim, is some sort of infidel and needs to be killed.

[BudRight]

NO SMOKING

[boomerangutang]

I grew up in D.C., and left at age 22 (1974), when they were just about to open the Metro. I like the city very much, had been everywhere there. Lots of good memories.