SURALLAH, South Cotabato — Two people died while 10 others were injured after a multicab carrying members of a church group fell into an estimated 30-meter-deep ravine in Barangay Upper Sepaka, Surallah, South Cotabato, on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The incident occurred in Sitio Mudon along a provincial road in the barangay as the group was reportedly returning to the town proper after attending an outreach activity and fellowship in the Upper Sepaka area.
The fatalities were identified as Joey Areglado, the driver, and Marilyn Agnawan Antonio, a passenger. Both were reportedly declared dead on arrival after being brought to the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital.
Initial reports indicated that the vehicle was carrying a large group of passengers, most of whom were members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and residents of Surallah.
According to the preliminary account, the multicab was negotiating a steep and curving portion of the road when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. One version of the initial report said the vehicle may have lost its brakes while traveling along the road, causing it to leave the roadway and plunge into the ravine.
Responding rescuers immediately assisted the victims and transported those injured to the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital for medical treatment.
The injured passengers reportedly sustained various injuries and remained under medical care as of the latest available information.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Among the factors being considered are possible brake failure, loss of vehicle control and the possibility that the vehicle was carrying more passengers than its intended capacity.
The exact number of people aboard the multicab remains subject to clarification in the initial reports, with one account indicating that around 20 people were traveling in the vehicle while a separate preliminary listing identified 17 passengers.
Authorities have not yet made a final determination on the cause of the accident.
The multicab was reportedly placed under the custody of barangay officials in Upper Sepaka pending proper disposition and further investigation. The extent of damage to the vehicle has yet to be determined.
The incident highlights the risks faced by motorists and passengers traveling along steep and winding rural roads, particularly where vehicle mechanical condition and passenger capacity may affect road safety.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.