Rescue workers search for more persons believed to be buried under sacks of fertilizers after a 10-wheeler cargo truck lost its brakes and rammed into vehicles on the roadside and a house in Barangay Malasila, Makilala, Cotabato on Thursday morning, Dec. 5, 2024. (Photos from DXND Radio)
COTABATO CITY — A 10-wheeler truck lost its brakes and rammed into pedestrians, parked vehicles, and a house, killing seven people, including a kindergarten pupil walking toward the school in Barangay Malasila, Makilala town, Cotabato province around 7 a.m. on Thursday.
Sonny Fontanilla, Makilala municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said responders retrieved seven bodies, including that of a person with a disability and a child.
Rescue workers search for more persons believed to be buried under sacks of fertilizers after a 10-wheeler cargo truck lost its brakes and rammed into vehicles on the roadside and a house in Barangay Malasila, Makilala, Cotabato on Thursday morning, Dec. 5, 2024. (Photos from DXND Radio)
Radio DXND in Kidapawan City reported five others were hurt in the accident across the Malasila Elementary School.
Malasila village chairman Jeckery Pontesor identified the child victim as Jeremiah Pamplona, a kindergarten pupil of Malasila Elementary School.
Pontesor also said at least two of those injured were in critical condition and are currently in hospitals in Kidapawan City.
Rescue workers search for more persons believed to be buried under sacks of fertilizers after a 10-wheeler cargo truck lost its brakes and rammed into vehicles on the roadside and a house in Barangay Malasila, Makilala, Cotabato on Thursday morning, Dec. 5, 2024. (Photos from DXND Radio)
Other victims were buried under sacks of fertilizers that fell off the cargo truck after it plowed through the parked vehicles, he added.
The cargo truck was from Davao City and was heading to Tulunan town in Cotabato province.
Police are still searching for the truck driver and helper as of this reporting.