Twenty pilgrims were killed Monday in a head-on bus collision while travelling to Christmas Day mass in the northern Philippines, police said.

A small bus taking an extended family to a dawn church service crashed into a larger bus in the town of Agoo, 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Manila, killing 20 on board, Agoo police said.

The nine other occupants of the small bus were injured, as were 15 travelling on the bigger bus, police said.

&quot;They were trying to catch a mass in Manaoag,&quot; police officer Vanessa Abubo told AFP, referring to a nearby town with a famous Catholic church.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-storm-toll-tops-200-tens-of-thousands-displaced-27576" target="_blank">Philippines storm toll crosses 200</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/37-feared-dead-in-philippine-mall-blaze-vice-mayor-27556" target="_blank">37 feared dead in Philippine mall fire</a>

The centuries-old Our Lady of Manaoag church is a popular pilgrimage site in the mainly Catholic nation, featuring an icon of the Virgin Mary which the faithful say performs miracles.

Agoo police chief Roy Villanueva told Manila radio station DZMM by telephone that the smaller vehicle had left its lane to overtake a third vehicle.

Authorities are investigating whether the driver, who Abubo said was among those killed, had fallen asleep or was under the influence, Villanueva added.

A small bus taking an extended family to a dawn church service crashed into a larger bus in the town of Agoo, 200 kilometres north of Manila

Twenty pilgrims were killed Monday in a head-on bus collision while travelling to Christmas Day mass in the northern Philippines, police said. A small bus taking an extended family to a dawn church service crashed into a larger bus in the town of Agoo, 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Manila, killing 20 on board, Agoo police said. The nine other occupants of the small bus were injured, as were 15 travelling on the bigger bus, police said. "They were trying to catch a mass in Manaoag," police officer Vanessa Abubo told AFP, referring to a nearby town with a famous Catholic church. Also read: Philippines storm toll crosses 200 Also read: 37 feared dead in Philippine mall fire The centuries-old Our Lady of Manaoag church is a popular pilgrimage site in the mainly Catholic nation, featuring an icon of the Virgin Mary which the faithful say performs miracles. Agoo police chief Roy Villanueva told Manila radio station DZMM by telephone that the smaller vehicle had left its lane to overtake a third vehicle. Authorities are investigating whether the driver, who Abubo said was among those killed, had fallen asleep or was under the influence, Villanueva added.

20 dead in Philippines bus crash on way to Christmas mass

Thirteen Philippine college students on a camping holiday and a bus driver were killed and dozens injured on Monday when their bus slammed into an electricity post in a mountainous region, police said.

The bus, rented by a Manila private school, was taking over 50 teenage students and an instructor on the trip when the driver lost control on a downhill slope in the town of Tanay, said regional police spokesman Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran.

The impact with the concrete post caved in the front of the bus and scattered parts of the engine on the roadside.

Ten students were killed on the spot while four other people including the bus driver died in hospital, officials said.

The bus&#39;s brakes appeared to have failed, said Boysie Mata, the police desk officer at Tanay in Rizal province east of Manila.

Almost 40 others were injured, said Bong Bati, the civil defence officer at Tanay.&nbsp;

&quot;There were some victims who are seriously injured that need to be transferred to a bigger hospital,&quot; he added.

(AFP)

The bus was taking over 50 teenage students and an instructor on a camping trip when the driver lost control on a downhill slope

Thirteen Philippine college students on a camping holiday and a bus driver were killed and dozens injured on Monday when their bus slammed into an electricity post in a mountainous region, police said. The bus, rented by a Manila private school, was taking over 50 teenage students and an instructor on the trip when the driver lost control on a downhill slope in the town of Tanay, said regional police spokesman Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran. The impact with the concrete post caved in the front of the bus and scattered parts of the engine on the roadside. Ten students were killed on the spot while four other people including the bus driver died in hospital, officials said. The bus's brakes appeared to have failed, said Boysie Mata, the police desk officer at Tanay in Rizal province east of Manila. Almost 40 others were injured, said Bong Bati, the civil defence officer at Tanay. "There were some victims who are seriously injured that need to be transferred to a bigger hospital," he added. (AFP)

13 students, driver killed in Philippine bus crash

philippines-bus-crash

Philippines Bus Crash, News on Philippines Bus Crash, stories on Philippines Bus Crash, articles on Philippines Bus Crash, Philippines Bus Crash stories at Wion, Philippines Bus Crash news, Philippines Bus Crash latest news

philippines bus-crash

20 dead in Philippines bus crash on way to Christmas mass

13 students, driver killed in Philippine bus crash