21 hurt as bus falls into canal in Kidapawan

A passenger bus plunged into an 8-foot deep canal along the Kidapawan-Cotabato highway around 4 a.m. Friday. (Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao)

Kidapawan City –– At least 21 people were injured when the passenger bus they were riding plunged into an eight-foot deep canal in Barangay Amas here Friday morning, a police official said.

Lt. Colonel Bernard Tayong, the spokesperson of the Cotabato provincial police, said the Mindanao Star bus was traversing the national highway to Cotabato City when the driver lost control of the wheel.

Tayong said the driver told him that he lost control of the bus as the road was slippery due to torrential rains.

The bus, which had 26 passengers, fell on its side.

Tayong said there were no fatalities but at least two of the passengers sustained serious injuries.

All injured passengers are now confined at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Barangay Amas here.

The bus, with body number 15676, was driven by Jimmylu Jose. The bus came from Davao City./lzb