PHOTO BY THOM PICAÑA
Fourteen people including two foreigners were killed and 31 others were injured as a bus fell into a deep ravine in Bontoc town, Mountain Province, on Friday, police said.
The bus, carrying 45 people, was travelling on a narrow road in Sitio Pagang, Barangay Talubin, when it fell about 120 meters (390 feet) into the ravine, said the local police chief, Sr. Supt. Oliver Enmodias.
Fourteen of the passengers died on the spot including a Canadian and a Dutch national, Enmodias said.
There were also reports that Filipino comedian Tado, whose real name is Arvin Jimenez, was one of those killed.
Among the injured were a Dutch woman and the driver of the bus, who were taken to hospital, he added.
The bus, with license plate TXT 872, was travelling from Baguio City to Bontoc, police said.
Local police spokesman Supt. Davy Vicente Limmong said they suspect human error or a mechanical problem was the cause of the accident, as there was no traffic and the weather was clear.
Rescuers brought the injured to Bontoc General Hospital and those killed to funeral homes in the town.
Bontoc authorities have not released the names of the fatalities and the injured, but the names of the bus driver and passengers were posted on a bulletin board in the hospital.
In the list are the driver Edgar Renon 30, Jerymiah Agnapan, 34, Agung Sikam, 7, Silvestre Dawey, 22, Ammelok, Codiamat 32, Teresita Sawad, 51, Melchor Suagen, Alexander Longlong, 42, Kristina de Leon, Naty Bang-I, 57, Roberto Conrado, 45, Aby Atin, 24, James Posao, 38, Carina Hairer, 38, Basilan Miluardo, 43, Abegail Sikam, 21, Edgar Kemon, 30, Winsislao Ciano, 30, Michale Ligito, 27, Dun Chavez, 30, Jason Melchor 38, Olivia Aglipay 27, Charlie Santamaria, 32, Paeng Cordove, 32, and Agung Sikam, 4.
Poorly maintained buses are the backbone of land transport in the Philippines but they have been involved in frequent accidents, leading to calls for tighter regulations.
AFP, Thom Picaña and Anthony Vargas