A devastating incident in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental province, central Philippines, claimed the lives of 15 people on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Two others were severely injured when a farm truck, carrying local villagers, plunged into a ravine.

Lieutenant Stephen Polinar, a police spokesperson, revealed that preliminary investigations suggest the crash may have been caused by brake failure. According to Polinar, the driver, who suffered serious injuries but survived, stated that he lost control of the vehicle before it veered off the road. It had rained for two days and the roads were also slippery.

Mabinay rescue official, Michael Cabugnason, informed local media that the truck was ferrying passengers to a livestock market on Negros Island at the time of the accident. “As it neared a sharp curve, the truck lost control,” Cabugnason noted. He added that such accidents are common near Mabinay due to the mountainous terrain.

Out of the 17 occupants of the truck, only the driver and a single passenger survived. Cabugnason reported that the driver was found drenched in motor oil amidst the wreckage at the bottom of the ravine, approximately 164 feet below the road level.

The incident underscores the persistent issues of vehicle maintenance and road safety in the Philippines, a country where vehicular accidents are frequent and often fatal.

In another incident in December 2023, a bus accident led to the death of 17 individuals after brake failure caused the vehicle to plummet into a ravine in Antique province, also located in central Philippines.

Factors such as the use of poorly maintained vehicles and insufficiency of safety features and signs on roads, particularly in less urbanized regions, are often identified as contributing to these accidents.

The accident has prompted a review of road safety measures in Negros Oriental, given the challenging terrain and recent heavy rainfalls that could have contributed to the accident. Authorities are now seeking potential solutions to prevent such occurrences in the future.