Eight people, including a 14-year-old girl, were killed while 15 others were injured after the mini dump truck they were riding fell into a ravine in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

The victims are reportedly relatives returning from Barangay Poloy-Poloy where they took part in a “pamanhikan,” a Filipino tradition where a man’s family visits a woman’s family to ask for the woman’s hand in marriage.

Authorities said the truck with 23 passengers on board was traveling downhill when its brakes allegedly malfunctioned, causing it to plummet into the ravine.

“Na-lose control yung brake ng dump truck. Galing sila ng Lebak going sila sa Maguindanao del Norte. So yun nga pagka-lose control pababa kasi yun,” Police Regional Office-SOCCSKSARGEN (PRO-12) Spokesperson, Major Rissa Hernaez, said.

The ravine is around 100 meters deep.

“Lumipad yung dump truck na blue kay kung natagilid lang hindi nahulog sa bangin, maari siyang mabangga sa bato,” a resident, Amen Hadji Arkham, said.

Other passengers were also thrown into the trees.

“May nahulog, mayron naman naka ano sa kahoy kasi malalim na bangin yun eh. Napakalalim,” Arkham added.

The truck driver was among those injured.

Police said the area is accident-prone.

“Kaya nga may notice tayo considering yung area talagang mahirap talaga. Kahit nga kausap yung mga kapulisan natin na taga doon pag dumadaan sila, careful talaga sila kahit yung mga sasakyan na maayos, mahirap ka talaga,” Hernaez added.

Authorities reminded motorists anew to drive slowly and with extra caution.