15 killed, 9 injured in truck accident in Biliran
July 22nd, 2012
By Joey A. Gabieta
Inquirer Visayas
3:39 pm | Sunday, July 22nd, 2012
TACLOBAN CITY- At least 15 persons, including a young girl, were killed on Saturday night when the vehicle they were riding exploded and fell into a ravine in Caibiran town, Biliran.
The victims were heading to the wake of their aunt in Barangay (village) Victory, Caibiran around 7 p.m. when an Isuzu elf cargo truck caught fire and exploded in Barangay Cabibihan.
Nine persons were hurt and were first taken to the Biliran Provincial Hospital before they were transferred to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban, about 100 kilometers away.
The truck driver, Leonilo Rosete, was in a critical condition at the hospital.
Mayor Eulalio Maderazo of Caibiran told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the 24 persons – all relatives – were residents of Barangay Villacaneja, an upland village of the capital town of Naval, 17 km away from Caibiran town.
They all boarded the Isuzu elf, a usual mode of transportation in people living in the upland, and headed to the Barangay Victory to attend the last night of the wake of their aunt identified only as “Tiyang Rosete” who was scheduled to be buried on Sunday after she died of a lingering illness.
Just four km away from their destination, the truck suddenly caught fire and fell into a ravine in Barangay Cabibihan, said Mayor Maderazo.
“Based on the information provided to me by the police, the vehicle was on fire and exploded while it was navigating a hilly area in Cabibihan and it fell to a deep area,” Maderazo said.
He said he suspected that the vehicle might have developed mechanical problem, which triggered the fire.
“It was really a very gory accident,” said Maderazo.
The town’s ambulance was used to bring the fatalities to the hospital and later to their families in Villacaneja.
Among those killed were Juniel Rosete, Junita Rosete, Josephine Rosete, Junalin Rosete, Darwin Rosete and a girl named Marilyn Rosete.
The others were Honoria Regir, Lolita Yagon, Renato Escosis, Julito Yagon, Marianito Areglo, Anthony Jay Montiadora, Lito Cabalquinto, Areglo Jennifer and still unidentified man.
Still confined in the hospital were Alicia Escosis, 56; Eunilo Rosete, 43; Elena Areglo, 56; Jereck Areglo, 13; Cornella Montiadora; Raul Montiadora; Rhea May Escosis, 15; Antonio Rosete, 50 and truck driver Leonilo Rosete.
Flor Jackson of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) based in Naval said Naval Mayor Susan Parilla and Rep. Rogelio Espina of Biliran provided financial assistance to the victims and respective families.
Tags: Caibiran incident, mishap, Tinago, traffic incident
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4 Comments for 15 killed, 9 injured in truck accident in Biliran
1.
KKB
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:36 am
Morag dunay sayop ni nga report sa Inquirer.
2.
jason peters
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:30 am
Trucks with plastic chairs are totally unsuitable and very dangerous to be transporting people.. Even if not involved in an accident and the driver has to suddenly brake the occupants have no chance as they just get thrown about and in many cases thrown out of the vehicle.
The government should ban this practice so it never happens again.. And mabe the government should be investigating the poor mechanical condition of vehicles carrying passengers.. All to often we hear of mechanical failures causing serious accidents..But this is not likely to happen as nearly all the government owned vehicles would also not pass any machinery inspection.
3.
hearsay
July 23rd, 2012 at 10:16 am
nagpataka nalang ug news si Joey A. Gabieta, HEARSAY man na imung news na ning buto, ngano na sunog ang elf?
4.
jason peters
July 24th, 2012 at 9:31 am
Was there really a fire in the truck? I cant see any fire damage showing on the truck ??
“Based on the information provided to me by the police, the vehicle was on fire and exploded while it was navigating a hilly area in Cabibihan and it fell to a deep area,” Maderazo said.
It looks really like it left the highway and went into ditch after rounding a slight downhill bend… It certainly has NOT exploded.
Cause of accident either driver error or mechanical failure..
Is this going to be investigated by the police?? To see if the driver was responsible for the accident or the truck owner was responsible for allowing a not roadworthy vehicle to be used for carrying people??
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