Twenty-eight passengers luckily escaped death after the Philtranco bus they were riding fell into a ravine along the Andaya Highway in Barangay Magais, Camarines Sur Sunday night.

The bus was on its way to Manila from Pio Duran in Albay when it was pushed by strong winds brought about by typhoon “Tisoy” at around 11 p.m.

According to reports from the Del Gallego Municipal Police Station, the driver lost control of the bus, which skidded along the highway and fell into the ravine.

The passengers broke the rear windows and windshield of the bus to escape the fallen vehicle.

Two senior citizens were said to have suffered serious injury while the rest of the passengers only sustained minor injuries. The wounded were brought to the Ragay District Hospital in Camarines Sur.

Rescuers had a hard time reaching into the slippery and deep ravine, which was made even more difficult by the strong rains because of the typhoon’s onslaught.

Marlon Borromeo, the bus driver, said that the area was very dark and road re-blocking warning signs were not visible as the highway was currently undergoing construction.

Some of the rescued passengers are teachers from Bato, Camarines Sur who were supposed to attend a convention in Manila.

Meanwhile, 35 passengers were injured after the mini bus they were riding tipped sideways early yesterday morning in Sogod, Cebu.

The bus was on its way from Bogo going to Cebu City when driver Edgar Atendido lost control of the brakes due to the rainy weather and slippery roads, and opted to crash the bus rather than allow it to fall into a ravine. The bus, instead of crashing, tipped over.

The wounded were brought to the Sogod District Hospital while some were transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.