6 killed, 17 injured as truck falls into ravine in Bontoc

BONTOC, Mountain Province-- Six people, including an infant, died and 17 others were injured after an Elf vehicle plunged into a ravine along the Talubin to Barlig road in Sitio Jakap, Barangay Talubin, Bontoc, Mountain Province in the afternoon of 15 September 2026.

The Bontoc Emergency Operations Center (EOC) received a report of the incident at approximately 12:40 PM. Preliminary findings indicate that the vehicle was carrying roughly 27 passengers and traveling from Isabela to Bakun, Benguet, via the Paracelis road when it fell off a slope and plummeted 50 to 100 meters into the ravine.

As of 5 p.m., emergency responders confirmed six fatalities—five adults and one infant.

One of the identified victims was Theresa Walitan. The infant was identified in reports as either five-month-old Rex Walitan or one-year-old Drix Walitan. The identities of the remaining three female adults and one male adult have yet to be officially confirmed.

Emergency personnel transported all 17 injured passengers to Bontoc General Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Medical staff treated 11-year-old Diana Bless Awis and 11-year-old Mafia Mendoza as outpatients before discharging them.

The remaining 15 injured passengers were admitted to the hospital. They were identified as Justin Alwis, Grayson Mendoza, Lexie Walitan, Gabriel Alwis, Shardia Abangley, John Lloyd Alwis, Delvin Panganiban, Hazel Jane Pudico, Vilma Alwis, Glorifina Mendoza, Chumayna Walitan, Mark Steve Mendoza, Uhadenzel Panganiban, and Rohen Pudico. One passenger, Sapiras Walitan, was transferred to Luis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

Local officials from the Municipality of Bakun and relatives of the victims have coordinated with the Bontoc Emergency Operations Center to arrange travel to Bontoc to assist the survivors and retrieve the remains of those who died.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.