THE number of fatalities of the Nueva Ecija bus accident increased to 31.
Nueva Ecija police director Senior Superintendent Antonio Yarra confirmed the death toll from the bus accident in Carranglan town had increased overnight, while 46 people were injured.
Initial investigation revealed that the ill-fated Leomaric bus was carrying more than 77 passengers based on the number of casualties.
Aileen Lizada, spokesperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), said the possibility of overloading will form part of the investigation, as the bus' capacity is only 50 to 60 passengers.
"I just want be sure and I want to talk to the operator. We are in touch with him and we have his number already. We just want to get more details," Lizada said in a television interview Wednesday.
On Tuesday morning, the Ilocos Sur bound bus plunged into a 100-foot ravine in Capintalan, Carranglan, when the brakes on the bus failed on the steep portion of the national highway.
Disaster officials said the crash sliced the vehicle in half.
Yarra said some survivors said the bus fell into the ravine after it apparently lost it breaks and its right front tire blew out.
Lizada said the LTFRB was investigating the incident to determine the possible liability of the bus owner.
She earlier said that the Leomaric bus has a valid permit to operate and was not out of line. (SunStar Philippines)
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