Truck falls into Apayao ravine; 19 dead, 22 hurt

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Nineteen persons died and 22 others were hurt when an Isuzu Elf truck they were riding plunged into a 20-meter ravine in sitio Gassud, Barangay Karikitan, Conner town in Apayao at around 7 p.m. last Thursday.

Investigators identified 18 of the fatalities as Amparo Aberion, Domingo Asperela, Hermalina Dacuycuy, Pacita Dajucon, Mercy Pataras Gundan, Claro Mamauag, Mamerto Milo, Susana Milo, Ludalina Molina, Rosemarie Molina, Rudy Pagtama, Margie Pamittan, Leticia Patay, Conrado Sabatan, Raymundo Soza, Brenda Talay, Imelda Talay and Jayson Talay.

Brig. Gen. Ephraim Dickson, Cordillera police director, said the victims were on their way home to Barangay Lattut in Rizal, Cagayan when the accident happened. 

Dickson said the victims had just picked up palay seedlings from Barangay Gagabutan in Conner. 

The Apayao disaster office said the mishap was apparently caused by engine malfunction of the truck with license plate HRM 189 that was carrying over 40 passengers.

Investigators said the truck was going uphill along the Cagayan-Apayao road when the engine died and the vehicle’s brakes failed. The truck rolled backwards until it went offroad and plunged into the ravine.

The truck was owned by the driver Merlito Culili Gannaban, who was among the 22 persons injured.

Conner police chief Capt. Manuel Canipas said policemen and members of the local rescue team rushed the victims to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center.

The other injured victims were brought to Conner District Hospital.

With Romina Cabrera, Raymund Catindig