MANILA (AP):

A RESCUE official says a bus has crashed into a boulder on a southern Philippine island resort, leaving five people dead and 22 hurt.

Janus Rafai les, head of Samal Island’s disaster office, said yesterday that three of the injured passengers were in critical condition in hospital. Among those killed was the driver.

He says the bus’ brakes apparently failed as it was speeding down a hill, forcing the driver to slam the vehicle into a roadside boulder to avoid crashing into a ravine.

Samal Island is a popular tourist destination because of i ts prist ine beaches, but Rafailes said the victims were all residents of the island and nearby Davao City.

Accidents are common in the country and are often blamed on poorly maintained vehicles and roads, and bad driving.