A devastating incident unfolded in the central Philippines as a passenger bus veered off the road on a treacherous curve, plummeting down a mountain and resulting in 17 fatalities, with 11 individuals sustaining injuries, officials reported on Wednesday.
The tragic event occurred in Hamtic municipality, Antique province, on Tuesday afternoon. Provincial disaster agency head Roderick Train informed AFP about the grim aftermath, revealing that seven individuals were in critical condition while four others remained stable. The location of the accident, described as an "accident-prone" stretch of road, has raised concerns about its safety.
Among the casualties, one Kenyan national lost their life, and a second Kenyan is currently in critical condition. Governor Rhodora Cadiao, initially stating there were four Kenyans on board, later clarified that only two were involved. The identification of another body is still underway.
Referring to the site as the "killer curve," Governor Cadiao expressed her distress, mentioning that this marked the second incident involving a Ceres bus at the same location. She called for abandoning the road and constructing a safer alternative.
The ravine the bus descended into was approximately 30 meters (100 feet) deep, adding to the severity of the incident. Train explained that the bus "fell from a high place," suggesting a potential mechanical failure and loss of control by the driver, possibly due to brake failure.
Governor Cadiao visited the hospital where survivors received treatment, assuring government assistance for medical expenses and funeral costs. The search and rescue operation concluded, with authorities shifting their focus to recovering the bus.
The tragic accident underscores the pressing issue of road safety in the Philippines, where deadly accidents are alarmingly common. Drivers often disregard regulations, and vehicles are frequently inadequately maintained or overloaded, contributing to the high incidence of road-related fatalities in the Southeast Asian nation.
