Plunge in the Storm: Trailer Truck Crashes into Bukidnon Creek Amid Heavy Rains, 3 Injured

DAMULOG, BUKIDNON — A treacherous, rain-slicked highway became the scene of a dramatic rescue on Thursday, July 23, 2026 when a massive trailer truck lost traction and plummeted into a raging creek, leaving three people injured and pinned inside the cabin.

The accident occurred during a relentless downpour that has been battering the southern province of Bukidnon, turning local roads into hazardous waterways and severely reducing visibility for motorists.

According to local traffic investigators, the trailer truck was navigating a winding section of the highway in Damulog when the driver lost control of the heavy vehicle. The combination of intense rainfall, accumulated road grime, and a sudden rush of surface runoff caused the truck to skid violently across the asphalt.

Unable to regain braking power, the vehicle smashed through a roadside barrier before plunging cab-first into the swollen creek below.

"We heard a loud screech followed by a massive crash that sounded like a small explosion," said a nearby resident who witnessed the aftermath. "When we looked over the edge, the truck was tilted completely into the water. The creek was rising fast because of the storm, and we knew the people inside were in immediate danger."

Local emergency responders, alongside community volunteers, rushed to the site to launch a complicated extraction operation. The cabin of the truck was partially submerged in the fast-moving creek waters, making it incredibly difficult for rescuers to gain access to the trapped occupants.

Using specialized cutting tools and ropes, rescue teams braved the torrential downpour and slippery terrain to pull the three victims from the wreckage. All three individuals—consisting of the driver and two passengers—sustained various degrees of physical trauma, including fractures and lacerations.

They were stabilized at the scene before being rushed to the nearest provincial hospital for urgent medical evaluation. Doctors have since reported that while the victims are heavily shaken and undergoing treatment, they are currently in stable condition.

The incident has prompted local authorities to issue an urgent travel advisory for motorists traveling through the mountainous terrains of Bukidnon. The current monsoon season has brought persistent heavy rains, significantly increasing the risk of flash floods, mudslides, and unpredictable road conditions across the region.

The Damulog Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) urged large vehicle operators to exercise extreme caution, lower their transit speeds, and, if possible, postpone travel during peak downpours.

As a heavy-duty tow crane works to haul the crumpled trailer truck out of the creek bed, local officials are assessing the structural damage to the highway barrier, reminding travelers that underestimating a tropical storm can turn a routine haul into a fight for survival.