Fifteen people died, and two were injured when a farm truck carrying villagers fell into a ravine in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental province, central Philippines, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
Lieutenant Stephen Polinar, a police spokesperson, reported that the initial investigation suggests brake failure might have caused the crash. The driver, who survived with serious injuries, told investigators the vehicle lost control before it left the road.
Michael Cabugnason, a rescue official from Mabinay, reported to the local media that the vehicle was transporting individuals to a livestock market on Negros Island when it crashed. “The truck lost control as it approached a sharp curve,” he noted, mentioning that the area near Mabinay, known for its mountainous terrain, often witnesses road accidents.
Of the 17 passengers, only the driver and one passenger survived the incident. Cabugnason added that the driver was discovered soaked in motor oil in the wreckage, which lay at the bottom of the ravine, more than 164 feet below the roadway.
This incident highlights vehicle maintenance and road safety issues in the Philippines, where road accidents are frequent and often deadly. In December 2023, a bus accident resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals after the vehicle experienced brake failure and fell into a ravine in Antique province, located in the central Philippines.
These accidents can often be attributed to a combination of factors, including the use of vehicles in disrepair and a lack of adequate safety features and signs on the road, especially in less urbanized areas
Negros Oriental’s challenging terrain, worsened by recent heavy rains, is being considered as a contributing factor to this accident. The area’s road safety measures and enforcement are now under review as authorities seek ways to prevent such tragedies.