Tragedy can occur anywhere, anytime and with anyone. And the thing with tragedy, it usually strikes at the worst possible time. Take the foreign hikers trekking up Mount Mayon, the most beautiful volcano in the world. Mayon is an active volcano, so the possibility of an eruption is always there. But since it is just so beautiful, people just cannot resist climbing up its slopes. The belief is that since it is an active volcano, the chances of an eruption the likes of Mt. Pinatubo is unlikely. That's why tours up the mountain are allowed. This is where tragedy chooses its time to strike. Four foreigners and their local tour guide were killed by falling rocks when Mt. Mayon underwent a phreatic explosion. Big word for the volcano letting out some steam. What is tragic is that it occurred when there were several groups of climbers on Mayon at the time, many of them foreigners. Mayon has been silent all these years, but it chose to let off some steam when there were people on her slopes. Maybe there shouldn't be people on her slopes at all?
But there probably could be no more emphatic an example of tragedy than the newlywed Filipina and her friends on their way to a bridal shower on a limousine. Nine passengers were on a stretched limo on their way to the shower when smoke started entering the back of the vehicle. The smoke became unbearable they told the driver to stop the car. This is when it burst into flames. Four of the passengers and the driver were able to get out. The other four were not so lucky, including newlywed Neriza Fojas. How tragic is that! Nine friends on their way to a happy occasion when something like this happens. Unbelievable!
An investigation is underway as to why the limousine burst into flames so fast. An electrical fire may have triggered the inferno as related by the driver of the vehicle. But one thing the investigators noted was that the limo was carrying nine passengers. Its rated capacity was eight or less. The additional passenger may have contributed to their difficulty in getting out when the smoke became unbearable.
Which brings me to several incidents in the country where overloading or overcapacity contributed to horrendous death tolls. The Ozone Disco fire is an example. All those people packed in like sardines so when the fire broke out, tragedy. We have had numerous sinkings of passenger ships that were filled to the smokestacks! We have public buses, jeepneys and tricycles overflowing with people. We have the MRT/LRT lines that look like sardine cans during rush hour. Even elevators are not spared this trait of ours when one person would force himself into an elevator already buzzing its alarm.
What happened in San Mateo, California is tragic, but may have been prevented. It is still unclear whether the owner, or even the driver of the limo will be charged, depending on further investigation. The driver should have enforced the rated capacity of the limo. But limos are often rented for that reason - to fill it up with friends having a good time. It is time we paid more attention to rated capacities of vehicles and buildings. It is time that these rated capacities be strictly enforced. Safety over profit should be the rule, not the exception. We've had enough tragic news for one week.