Philippine Tourist Bus Plunges Down Slope in Nantou's Ren'ai Township, 16 Hospitalized, 6 Injured

(Central News Agency, reporter Zheng Weizhen, Nantou, 7th) At the 79km mark of Provincial Highway 14 in Ren'ai Township, Nantou County, a medium-sized bus plunged down an embankment this evening. The driver and 15 Filipino tourists on board were all sent to the hospital. Among them, one person suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and two others sustained severe fractures. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The Ren'ai Police Station of the Nantou County Police Bureau reported tonight that they received a report around 5 PM about a medium-sized bus plunging down an embankment at the 79km mark of Provincial Highway 14. Officers arrived at the scene and found that the driver, surnamed Zhang, allegedly lost control on a steep slope and curve, causing the vehicle to veer off the lane and fall down the embankment. A total of 16 people, including the driver and passengers, were sent for medical treatment.

According to sources, the tour group was visiting Hehuan Mountain and was involved in the accident while descending the mountain by bus. Police stated that preliminary diagnoses from the hospital indicated six people were injured, including one with a cerebral hemorrhage and two with more severe fractures. The cause of the accident is still being clarified.

Police urge drivers heading to mountainous areas, especially with recent continuous rainfall, to maintain a safe distance and drive in low gear to reduce the risk of traffic accidents. (Editor: Chen Renhua) 1150607