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Taipei (AP) - After the worst train accident in Taiwan in decades with 50 deaths, the investigations revolve around the question of how a construction vehicle could get onto the rails.

The crane truck driver was arrested on Sunday.

The man tearfully apologized to the victims' families before the police took him away.

At more than 100 kilometers per hour, the express train with around 500 passengers collided with the crane truck shortly before a tunnel in the east of the Asian island republic and derailed.

Around 210 people were injured.

More than 30 were still in the hospital on Monday, three in critical condition, the emergency center reported.

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The crane truck was parked above the railway line on a hill near a construction site.

According to the investigation, the vehicle rolled down the slope because the handbrake was not properly applied and crashed onto the rails.

Whether human negligence or mechanical failure was the cause is currently being investigated.

The Vice Minister of Transport and Communications, Wang Kwo-tsai, also reported that the construction site - contrary to what is required - had no security fence.

The crane truck driver arrested on Sunday was released on bail the day before after an interrogation.

However, the court revoked its decision in view of the gravity of the accident.

It argued that there was a risk of escape and blackout, and evidence could also be destroyed.

It was the worst train wreck in Taiwan in 70 years.

After the collision with the construction vehicle, the first five of the eight wagons of the Taroko Express from Taipei to Taitung derailed in the narrow, single-lane tunnel on the steep coast near the Qingshui cliff.

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According to the CNA news agency, the train's camera showed that the train driver and his assistant only had 6.9 seconds to react to the suddenly appearing obstacle.

This was not enough to stop the train, the chief of transportation, Young Hong-tsu, reported.

Both perished.

As a sign of mourning, the flags of the island republic waved at half-mast on Saturday.

The number of deaths was corrected from 51 to 50 because one victim was counted twice.

The accident occurred three days before the Chinese memorial day on Monday, when a particularly large number of travelers were on the way.

Family members of the victims criticized the railway company, which had also sold tickets without a seat due to the high demand.

Around 120 passengers should have been standing when the train disaster happened.

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The emergency center reported that the victims' families will initially each receive 5.4 million Taiwan dollars, the equivalent of 161,000 euros, as compensation.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210405-99-88852 / 2