According to the provincial police in Negros Oriental, a truck carrying livestock traders crashed in the central Philippines, resulting in the death of fifteen people and injuring two others. The truck veered off a winding road and fell into a 40 to 50-meter deep ravine on Thursday.
Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for Negros Oriental’s provincial police office, stated in an interview with DWPM radio station that “The driver lost his brake and lost control.” He also mentioned that it had been raining for two days, making the road slippery.
A rescue operation was immediately launched after the accident, with all passengers being accounted for by the rescue team on Wednesday afternoon, as confirmed by Polinar.
The driver is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital and could face charges as a result of the incident.
The Philippines is known for its lack of strict regulations on public transportation, leading to issues such as passenger overloading and poorly maintained roads.
Just last December, a tragic accident occurred in the central Philippines province of Antique, resulting in the death of 17 people when a bus lost its brakes and plunged into a ravine.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Chris Reese)
