The Manila Times
THE EDSA-Ortigas Flyover southbound lane was temporarily closed to vehicles on Saturday, April 25, after a tourist bus caught fire in the area the night before. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the closure remained in effect as of 10 a.m., advising motorists to take alternate routes while authorities continued post-incident clearing and safety measures. The fire was first reported at around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, April 24, along the EDSA-Ortigas southbound lane, occupying two lanes and causing heavy traffic in the area. In an interview, Senior Fire Officer 4 Alvic Alabastro of the Mandaluyong Bureau of Fire Protection said the driver was alone when the incident happened. “Upon interview with the driver, he was alone. When he was going up the flyover, he suddenly felt that something seemed wrong with the movement of his bus, like something slammed the brakes, then the tire suddenly caught fire and burst. The tire exploded,” Alabastro said. “We are investigating the possible cause of the bus explosion. But according to the driver, allegedly, it suddenly seemed like something stopped the movement of his bus,” he added. Lane open The Department of Transportation earlier said MRT 3 operations resumed at 6:50 p.m. on Friday after slight delays caused by the fire, with trains running at reduced speeds between Ortigas and Santolan stations due to smoke from the burning bus. On Saturday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that the southbound lane of the flyover was opened to motorists following a thorough inspection and assessment. “Based on the assessment conducted by PDD (Planning and Design Department) Structural Engineer and District Representatives, the southbound lane of the Ortigas flyover has been cleared and is now passable to traffic,” it added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the agency to conduct a safety check to ensure the lane is safe after the Friday fire incident. Meanwhile, the DPWH-NCR said the EDSA–Ortigas Interchange will undergo a more detailed inspection on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage and assess its structural integrity. “For the Ortigas Flyover Interchange, it is recommended to restrict access to light vehicles only,” it said. “Further testing is also advised to support a more detailed structural analysis, as exposed rebars and areas of spalling were observed in sections affected by the fire incident.”
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