MANILA, (PNA) — The death toll for the seven-vehicle smashup in an accident-prone portion of the Maharlika Highway, in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Atimonan town, Quezon before dawn Saturday has now climbed to 19 with 32 others wounded.
Reports said this was after a number of the injured victims earlier rushed to the hospital about 1 a.m. today (Saturday) died while undergoing treatment
It was said to be raining hard at the time of the smashup.
One of the latest fatalities was a four-year-old boy who died while being treated in a hospital in Gumaca town in Quezon.
At least one girl was also reported missing. It was not immediately clear if she was among the fatalities.
Saturday’s smashup occurred when a bus heading for Bicol went out of control and hit three trucks, two buses and a trailer truck bound for Metro Manila.
Citing initial investigation, the report said most of the passengers aboard the Bicol-bound bus were from Capalonga town in Camarines Norte.
The passengers, many of whom were employees of the town government, were reportedly heading home after attending a seminar.
At least 32 others were reported injured following the accident.