Three killed, 10 injured as bus falls into ravine

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines -Three passengers died while 10 others were injured when the bus they were riding fell into a ravine, estimated to be 60 to 70 meters deep, in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night.

Inspector Victorino Romanillos, officer-in-charge of San Carlos Police Station, said among the three fatalities was bus driver Teodoro Aburido. Another fatality, passenger Emerina Dumangas, only died yesterday at a hospital. The third fatality has not been identified yet as of yesterday.

The Ceres Liner passenger bus with body numbers 5229 had 10 passengers, plus the driver, a bus inspector and a conductor, Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, said.

The bus left Bacolod City bound for San Carlos City via Don Salvador Benedicto town at 5 p.m. and fell into the ravine at 8 p.m. in Sitio Dukog-dukog, Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City.

One of the 10 injured is PO3 Edsel Villanueva, a member of the Calatrava Police Station, while the other victims were identified as Rodito Lumanog, Richard Lasconia, Jesamine Lucas, Rey Anoble and Teodoro Ulgasan, sand Charlie Pablo, said Romanillos,

The injured passengers were brought to two hospitals in San Carlos City, but were later transferred to the different hospitals in Bacolod City, for further treatment of their injuries.

Romanillos, who led the rescue operations together with various rescue groups of in San Carlos City and members of the city police force, said they are still searching for other missing passengers. /WAB (FREEMAN)