Spikes puncture tires of 39 vehicles, cause traffic jam on EDSA

Pranksters scattered iron spikes across a busy portion of EDSA in Mandaluyong City yesterday, causing the tires of 39 vehicles to puncture and leading to a major traffic jam, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

The six-pointed spikes, made from welded and sharpened iron bars, were strewn during the morning rush hour along a stretch of the southbound lane of the EDSA-Shaw underpass.

Tires burst one after the other aggravating the already slow moving traffic toward Makati City.

Police and firetrucks rushed to the scene and cleared the road of spikes and vehicles with flat tires. Traffic police were also dispatched to search other parts of the avenue for spikes.

The MMDA collected 100 of the spikes, which were scattered by two men on a motorcycle after 8 a.m. Some of the spikes have been turned over to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios said that at around 8:30 a.m., three vehicles were reported to have flat tires. An hour later, the figure rose to 39.

De Dios said he believes that mischief was not the motive since the perpetrators invested time and money in manufacturing the spikes.

"These are not sold commercially," he said.

The MMDA official said that in 1992, a religious cult scattered metal spikes in Sta. Mesa and Bonifacio Avenue in Manila.

No one has claimed responsibility for yesterday’s incident.

While the NCRPO conducts an investigation, MMDA traffic enforcers would be monitoring EDSA to prevent any other incident. – With AFP