3 dead as truck plunges into Chico River

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Philippines — Three people died after a truck plunged into the Chico River after hitting two other vehicles in Barangay Tocucan in Bontoc, Mountain Province yesterday.

According to the Bontoc Operations Center, the truck was transporting five construction workers to their project site in Kuro-Kuro, Sadanga town when it collided with a Ford Fiera and a mini dump truck at 6 a.m.

The impact was strong enough to send the truck diving into the Chico River, where emergency responders found at least three bodies.

The Bontoc Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office declared the three dead on-site. BMDRRMO personnel, town police and volunteer rescuers continue with the search for the other missing workers.

Authorities said strong river currents and uneven terrain posed challenges to the retrieval efforts.

Officials have yet to release the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.

Meanwhile, in Magpet town in Cotabato, five people were injured after a truck flipped, hit three motorcycles and slammed six houses along the national highway.

Magpet police said driver Alvin Ilorica lost control of the truck after its brakes malfunctioned while maneuvering through a downhill portion of Barangay Noa.

Investigators said the truck was fully loaded with bananas.