This evening, around 5pm, we received the devastating news that our Mole Bus was involved in a severe accident, resulting in serious injuries and the death of MANY villagers. The bus seats 8 people per row. Any rows that don’t have people are used for excess luggage.
Due to gangs taking control of the main roads, buses have been forced to find alternative routes to reach the northern villages. They start in PAP, then head further south, crossing mountainous areas before connecting to a major coastal road so they can begin traveling north. Unfortunately, the drivers are less familiar with these roads, and there are several narrow stretches where only one vehicle can pass.
It appears that the bus rolled multiple times before landing at the bottom of a ravine. There were even 6-8 passengers riding on top of the bus when it swerved to avoid a head-on collision.
Our staff and friends are currently trying to contact their loved ones who were on this bus. A lot of people lost essential food and supplies, including us, but that can’t begin to compare to the heartbreak of losing so many beloved members of our community.
Our employees and community members have gathered downtown at the bus station, anxiously waiting for updates from the passengers. The accident occurred about 10 hours away from us, making it difficult to confirm what is fact and what is rumor.
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So far, we have confirmed the deaths of the bus driver, the ticket collector, and the individual responsible for loading luggage on top of the bus. These people were close friends to Jose, our security guards, and our truck driver. They interact with them all the time, as we continually use them to bring essentials.
We’ve also learned that several merchants—vendors from the small thatch market stands—were among those who died. They had traveled to PAP to buy supplies, planning to return to the Mole to sell them.
Our orphanage moms, security guards, many church members, and several core staff are still waiting to hear if their loved ones are safe.
Conflicting reports are surfacing regarding the following details…
- There were between 80 to 120 people on board.
- Death toll estimates range from 22 to 85.
- There are reports that two babies and their mothers died, as well as 7 to 10 small children (young enough to sit on someone’s lap).
- Additionally, we’ve heard that between 10 to 19 preteens/teens, likely returning to school, were also among the victims.
We’ve heard that most of the bodies are still on the bus, as locals don’t know what to do with them or how to transport them back to the Mole. Many people have also lost all the money they had, sending it with vendors or friends to purchase supplies for their small shops.
There’s been loud weeping across town, heard from miles away. We’re not sure if these are the cries of those who know their loved ones have died or if it’s the sheer emotional breakdown of realizing that, in an instant, we’ve lost so many vital members of our community.
It will likely take a few days before the bodies are returned to the village and the stories of those who passed can be confirmed.
Please pray for our village. There’s so much uncertainty and overwhelming grief. After all the hardship we’ve faced this year, it feels like it never ends.
We ask that you be intentional in your prayers. Pray when you can’t sleep, when you wake up, on your way to work. Set reminders on your phone and lift us up in prayer. The people here were already struggling to survive, and we know that a tragedy like this will be impossible for the majority of them to recover from.
