COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A tragic road collision involving an oil tanker truck and a multicab vehicle in Barangay San Mateo, Aleosan, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left three others critically injured on Friday afternoon.

According to Col. Gilberto Tuzon, director of the Cotabato Provincial Police Office, the collision occurred as the multicab was returning to Pikit, while the tanker was en route to Cotabato City.

Witnesses reported that the multicab, driven by Beebhot Ulangkaya, overtook another vehicle and collided with the tanker coming from the opposite direction.

The fatalities included Ulangkaya and a female passenger, Jahara Musa, both residents of Pikit.

The injured passengers — Bailanie Musa, Gino Ulangkaya, and Juharto Alimanan — were transported to local hospitals by responding barangay officials and police.

In another incident, severe flooding resulting from heavy rainfall in Eastern Cape, South Africa, has claimed the lives of 49 individuals, including four children.

Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the fatalities, which also involved a school minibus driver and conductor.

Reports indicate that the flooding swept away victims near the city of Mthatha, and four additional children are currently missing, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations.

Local authorities have alerted that the death toll may rise as rescue efforts continue across affected regions.

Premier Mabuyane described the extreme weather conditions, which combined heavy rainfall with snowfall, as unprecedented for the winter season, underscoring the severity of the situation and its impact on local communities.