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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.