TACLOBAN CITY—At least 21 stranded individuals returning to their home provinces in Mindanao survived a bus crash unscathed in the town of Sta. Rita, Samar province on Monday (July 6).
The bus carrying the stranded persons ran into a deep portion of the road in the town.
Maj. Dexter Astacaan, Sta. Rita police chief, said the bus driver was unfamiliar with the road and did not notice the sharp curve in the dark.
All 21 passengers and the bus’ drivers were safe, said Astacaan.
The passengers came from coronavirus epicenter Manila and were on their way home to their provinces in Mindanao.
The town of Sta. Rita is along the Maharlika Highway, or the Pan-Philippine Highway, which connects Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
Astacaan said at least 80 buses are on the road carrying stranded individuals bound for Mindanao as part of the national government’s “Hatid Sundo” program for those who had been stranded in Metro Manila by travel restrictions during lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.