Death toll in South Cotabato truck mishap now at 20 —OCD

The death toll in the road accident in T'boli, South Cotabato has reached 20, the Office of Civil Defense in SOCCSKSARGEN said on Tuesday afternoon.

OCD-12 regional director Minda Morante said nine others were wounded in the accident.

The victims were immediately brought to Upper Valley Hospital and South Cotabato Provincial Hospital.

Authorities earlier said a truck fell off a cliff in Barangay Lamsalome in T'boli town at 10:35 a.m.

According to T'boli Mayor Dibu Tuan, the ill-fated truck was loaded with passengers, mostly children, who were on their way home to Surallah town after a night of swimming in General Santos City.

Tuan said some of the survivors that he talked to in the hospital said the driver had shouted that the truck lost its brakes as they were traveling the newly opened T’boli-Gensan shortcut road.

Investigation is still ongoing, authorities said.

Personnel from the Philippine Red Cross were already on the scene to help in the ongoing search efforts for the passengers of the truck. —NB, GMA News