18 injured as bus falls into ravine

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Eighteen passengers sustained serious injuries when their mini-bus plunged into a 30-foot ravine past noon yesterday in President Roxas, North Cotabato.

One of the passengers, Joel Pareja, told reporters that the fully loaded bus bound for Arakan town wiggled when its brakes malfunctioned and then fell into the ravine.

“The driver tried his best, but failed to prevent the bus from falling into the deep side of the highway,” Pareja said.

Police said four of the victims sustained head injuries and were rushed to the North Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City. The rest were brought to dispensaries in adjoining towns.

Most of the injured passengers were farmers and itinerant vendors who were to sell their merchandise at the public market in Arakan.