Truck falls into South Cotabato ravine; 20 dead

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — At least 20 people were killed while 14 others were injured when a light truck fell into a 30-foot ravine at around 9:30 a.m. yesterday in Barangay Lam Salome, T’boli, South Cotabato.

T’boli Mayor Dibu Tuan said the passengers in an Isuzu six-wheeler truck came from a family reunion at a resort in General Santos City when the accident happened.

There were reports that the driver lost control of the vehicle while cruising downhill on a curved road in Barangay Lam Salome.

Police probers said the ill-fated truck was en route to T’boli town proper when the vehicle wiggled uncontrollably before it plunged into the ravine along the road traversing the mountain range.

Police said 15 of the victims, including children, died on the spot while five others were declared dead at the Upper Valley Hospital in nearby Surallah, South Cotabato.

Nine of the injured victims were brought to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City, while others were rushed to the Dagang Hospital in T’boli for treatment.

Col. Joel Limson, South Cotabato police director, said among the injured was the truck driver identified as Rodel Ravara.

“The driver is recuperating at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital,” Limson said.

He said investigators are still getting the names of the dead as of yesterday afternoon.

An investigation is ongoing to determine what caused the accident, which is reportedly the worst vehicular accident in the history of T’boli.

Rolly Doane Cuenca Aquino, an official of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of South Cotabato, said the agency would attend to the needs of the families of the fatalities. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Edith Regalado