Many killed in Ecuador bus plunge

Ecuador bus crash kills 38

A bus winding its way through Ecuador’s highlands toward the capital of Quito went off the road before dawn yesterday, killing 38 passengers in the worst accident of this kind in the country in years.

Authorities said 12 more people were injured in the crash. Local television showed rescue workers struggling to extract bodies and look for survivors on the steep cliffs around Lake Yambo in the central province of Cotopaxi where the accident occurred.

Dwellers look at the debris of a bus in Latacunga, 70 km (43.5 miles) south of Quito August 29, 2010.




The bus had started its journey in the southern colonial city of Cuenca in Azuay province.

“We are analysing the causes of the accident,” Ecuador’s chief traffic accident investigator Wilson Pavon told reporters.

Local TV showed rescue workers extracting a tiny baby from the wreckage. It was unclear if the child was still alive.

Video of Philippine gunman Rolando Mendoza's burial after hostage tragedy

80,000 in Hong Kong protest Philippine bus tragedy

An estimated 80,000 Hong Kongers marched Sunday in honor of eight locals killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, denouncing the Philippine government for botching the rescue operation and demanding justice for the dead.

Former Philippine police officer Rolando Mendoza commandeered a bus carrying a 20-member Hong Kong tour group visiting the Philippine capital last week, hoping to reverse his dismissal from the force on what he said were bogus robbery and extortion charges.

Mendoza released several children and elderly hostages early in the 12-hour standoff broadcast live on television, but later opened fire on the tourists. A police sniper shot and killed Mendoza — but not before eight tourists were killed by gunfire. Three others were seriously wounded, including one still in a coma.

Filipino domestic workers react as they pray for the Hong Kong tourists who were killed in the Manila tourist bus hostage standoff during a solemn assembly in Hong Kong





The Philippines government ordered a thorough investigation into last Monday's incident, but that has done little to stem growing anger in this wealthy southern Chinese territory where violent crime is rare.

About 20 Hong Kong legislators led the crowd gathered at an urban park in a short ceremony honoring the dead before setting off on a march to the financial district. Police didn't estimate the size of the crowd, but organizers said about 80,000 people took part.

"That 80,000 people can show up in such a short period of time — it shows the anger and unity of the Hong Kong people," lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong said.

The bloody ending stunned Hong Kongers, who blasted Manila police for what they called an amateurish rescue attempt.

"Everyone saw how the Philippine government mishandled the situation before TV cameras and the chaos in the country. As a Chinese person, I need to demand justice," 49-year-old worker Andy Wong said at Sunday's protest.

Manila's police chief has taken leave and four leaders of the assault team were relieved pending an investigation. Officials have said the firearms used by 200 police commandos will be tested to see if any of the hostages were hit by police gunfire.

Philippine presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said Sunday that his country respects the right of Hong Kongers to express their sentiments. He promised to announce the results of a "comprehensive, fair and accurate" investigation in three weeks.

Starting Monday, a small group of Hong Kong forensic experts will be allowed to examine the bullet-peppered bus, Philippine National Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz said.

Local Filipino activists organized an interfaith service in memory of the victims earlier Sunday where they lit eight candles — one for each victim.

"We ask the Hong Kong people who are watching us not to blame us for what happened because we also did not want this kind of thing to happen," migrant worker Elma Oliva said.

Survivor Lee Ying-chuen, who along with her mother escaped with light injuries, said in an article published in Ming Pao Daily News the tourists thought about subduing Mendoza but never acted because he seemed friendly and promised to release his hostages.

"If we didn't wait for the police rescue operation and acted decisively, there might have been a different outcome. But the horrible thing is there are no 'ifs' in history," Lee wrote.

Filipino domestic workers react as they pray for the Hong Kong tourists who were killed in the Manila tourist bus hostage standoff during a solemn assembly in Hong Kong Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010.


Filipinos react during a solemn assembly to pray for the Hong Kong tourists who were killed in the Manila tourist bus hostage standoff in Hong Kong Sunday,


A Filipino woman reacts during a solemn assembly to pray for the Hong Kong tourists who were killed in the Manila tourist bus hostage standoff in Hong Kong Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010.

HK march denounces bungled Philippine hostage rescue

Protestors take to the streets in Hong Kong to express their grief and anger towards Manila's hostage tragedy, August 29, 2010

Tens of thousands marched in Hong Kong today to denounce the Philippines’ bungled hostage rescue in which eight Hong Kong tourists were shot dead.

The eight Hong Kong hostages and the gunman, a sacked policeman, died in Monday’s hijack and botched rescue which has been heavily criticised across the world, particularly in Hong Kong and China.

“Shame on the Philippine government and police,” read one banner waved above the marchers. “We are furious,” exclaimed another.

“It was a total failure,” said Jo Liu, who was marching with her nine-year-old son, adding that the Philippine police were too slow and unprofessional.





Dressed mostly in black and white, many openly wept and carried flowers to mourn the eight under a blistering sun.

The failed rescue and poor security in the Philippines has posed a major political challenge for Philippine President Benigno Aquino.

The coalition of major local political parties which helped organise the rally in a rare show of unity reiterated calls for a thorough and full investigation.

Hundreds of Filipinas employed as domestic helpers in Hong Kong held a candelight vigil on their traditional day off and urged the people of Hong Kong to not direct their anger at them.

The website of the Philippine Information Agency was hacked today, with media reporting a Chinese flag and obscure messages “Hacked by 7z1” and “Black Matrix Team” popping up when people tried to access the site. It was no longer happening by Sunday evening.

Philippine Presidential Communication Operations Office head Herminio Coloma said other websites under the Office of the President such as www.president.gov.ph and www.gov.ph were secure.

“We are alerting all government agencies to review and improve the security of their websites in view of the hacking... this afternoon,” he said.

Philippines defends handling of bus hostage crisis

Philippine authorities defended today their handling of a bus hostage crisis in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed, but missteps were seen as signs of deeper deficiencies in a country beset by security problems.

Eight hostages and their disgruntled ex-policemen kidnapper were killed at the end of a day-long siege in the capital after signs earlier that the crisis would be resolved peacefully.

Hong Kong advised residents against travel to the Philippines, a blow to the poor Southeast Asian nation’s hopes to double tourist numbers to six million a year to help lift economic growth.

In China, the widely-read tabloid the Global Times, run by Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily, said the botched rescue reflected a deeper malaise in the country.

“The Philippines is one of the most chaotic countries in Southeast Asia,” the newspaper said.

“A culture of colonisation, autocracy and rapid changes in government have created all sorts of curious grievances in this country,” it added.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III admitted there were deficiencies in the operation, but said the gunman’s access to TV and radio made it hard for police to launch a rescue mission on a bus that was parked some distance from cover.

The day-long siege in downtown Manila had a lengthy climax, with police launching an initial assault on the bus in heavy rain before moving in a second time and killing the gunman an hour later.

“Another aspect that I think not too many people are aware was that at some point in time, when the action did occur, the hostage taker had surrounded himself with his hostages,” Aquino he told a midnight news conference.

“He used them as body shields which made our forces hesitate to employ deadly force.”

Authorities had taken heart from the release during the day of nine hostages by 55-year-old Rolando Mendoza, a disgruntled ex-policeman angry at being sacked from the force.

Aquino said Mendoza had not seemed to be a hard-core criminal or terrorist and “that led us to believe that this could be settled peacefully, without loss of life”.

The Philippines is trying to end decades-long insurgencies by Muslim separatists and Maoist guerillas. As well, authorities are trying to combat Islamic militants, clan wars and criminal gangs — an effort made harder by endemic corruption.

“We will be enhancing and providing funds to support the training and acquire equipment that seemed to be so lacking,” said Aquino, who took office less than two months ago amid widespread expectations he could restore the Philippines’ reputation.

“There was a television set inside the bus. Unfortunately, Mendoza got a glimpse of what the police were up to. So we lost our element of surprise,” Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo told dwIZ radio.

Seven tourists killed and hostage-taking policeman shot dead as Manila bus siege ends in botched rescue operation

* At least seven Hong Kong tourists die and others are injured
* Former senior police inspector killed by colleagues to end siege
* Police earlier attempted armed rescue but forced to retreat under fire

A terrifying hostage drama involving 22 tourists on a bus in the volatile Philippines ended in a bloodbath last night when the crazed gunman holding them at gunpoint was shot dead in an operation that went horribly wrong.

Seven of the hostages were killed by either the kidnapper or by police when they stormed the bus - and questions were being asked why police commandoes had not shot the hijacker when they had a chance earlier.

They were seen talking to him - a disgruntled former senior police inspector - at the bus door before the final assault which resulted in a bloodbath.

Rescue attempt: Police surround the bus as their colleagues attempt to smash their way in to reach the gunman

Rescue attempt: Police try to storm the bus using a sledge hammer after gunshots were heard. A former police inspector with a grievance against the local force earlier took 25 people hostage at gunpoint

Rescued: An injured hostage is pulled clear of the bus by emergency service workers after the gunman was shot dead by police

Bizarre: Earlier in the day, a random man appeared to cycle past the bus, watched by the armed kidnapper inside the vehicle

Anxious: Hostages, all of them tourists from Hong Kong, peer out of the window

Demands: A list of the gunman's grudges against the Manila police department are taped to the windscreen

Released: Four hostages - a mother and three children - are escorted from the bus after being freed

Tough talking: Two police negotiators talk to the gunman, who is wearing police uniform and is believed to be former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, as the bus sits parked next to Manila's Rizal Park

Escape: The bus driver flees the vehicle before police move in

Horrific ordeal: A terrified woman is helped from the bus after the final shoot-out

Hostage-taker: Former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, stands at the entrance of the bus earlier in the siege

Onlookers said they believed the police had the chance of shooting him through the door at the time but had hesitated.

Police said at least four of the remaining captives on the bus were confirmed alive after they had managed to escape through the back door when the climax of the crisis was played out but early reports about the others remained sketchy.

Several bodies were seen being brought from the bus, confirming a terrifying account by the bus driver, who had managed to escape, who said that the gunman had sprayed the passengers with bullets.
There were grave fears for the lives of most on board when only those four managed to leave the vehicle after the police had stormed it.

The body of the gunman was seen slumped at the main door of the bus.

A highly-trained police SWAT team had earlier stormed the bus but had failed to break in - before a second attempt was made as bullets flew.

According to police at the centre of the drama, which was played live on tv, the gunman had sprayed the passengers with gunfire shortly before the SWAT team managed to break in.

In the confusion screams ran out from the tourists, all from Hong Kong, who had been held for 12 hours by the gunman, former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, who was demanding reinstatement after being sacked for extortion in 2008.
Wearing his police uniform, Mendoza boarded the bus in a tourist district of Manila, telling the driver he wanted a free ride.

A tour guide on board tried to stop him but he eventually entered the bus and told the driver to lock the door.

The vehicle travelled from the historic walled city of Intramuros and came to a stop near the Jose Rizal Park alongside Manila Bay.

That is where the standoff began, with Mendoza using a mobile phone to tell his former fellow officers that he had taken the passengers hostage.
He would be holding them until he reached a promise that he would be reinstated as a police officer. Failure to meet his demands, he threatened in a notice he put up on one of the windows, would result
in a 'big deal at 3pm' - understood to mean he would start killing the hostages.

Later he set an earlier deadline of 12.30pm, but nothing happened inside the bus and police negotiators tried to talk him into surrendering.

As night fell and rain poured down, police in helmets and flak jackets crouched beside the bus - now containing 15 people after a handful were released by the hijacker - and tried to break the
windows, but failed.

'I shot two Chinese. I will finish them all if they do not stop,' Mendoza told the Radio Mindanao Network.
'I can see a lot of SWAT coming in. I know they will kill me. They should all leave because anytime I will do the same here.'

The SWAT team drew back - and prepared for another assault.

This time, hammers and axes were used to break the windows. The crackle of gunfire rang out into the night, from both outside and inside the vehicle.

According to Philippines newspapers, 55-year-old Mendoza was among five officers charged with robbery, extortion and grave threats after a Manila hotel chef filed a complaint alleging the policemen falsely accused him of using drugs to extort money.

Manila hostage taker prepared to kill-Raw Video: Filipino Hostage Drama-Video of hostage bus drama in Philippines as gunman holds tourists in Manila

Police kill Manila bus gunman, some hostages alive

Philippine police shot and killed a sacked former policeman who was holding 15 Hong Kong tourists aboard a bus in downturn Manila today and TV images showed some hostages leaving the vehicle alive.

The gunman, identified as 55-year-old former police captain Rolando Mendoza who was armed with an M-16 assault rifle, had stopped the bus, which initially had 25 people on board, across a wide road in Manila’s biggest park.

“The hostage-taker was killed. He chose to shoot it out with our men,” police Colonel Nelson Yabut told reporters.

“On our first assault, Captain Mendoza was sprawled in the middle of the aisle and shot one of our operatives. On our second assault we killed him.”

A tourist bus containing passengers who have been taken hostage is parked near Quirino Grandstand in Manila August 23, 2010





Police could be seen removing a body from the front of the bus before entering the vehicle. The Red Cross said at least five hostages left the bus alive, but TV images also showed more bodies being removed. There were no more immediate details on casualties.

The end of the 11-hour drama came more than an hour after police commandos had moved in to break windows and surround the bus following a series of shots. The driver of the bus was seen running to safety after the first flurry of gunshots.

Mendoza had threatened to kill the hostages in a live telephone interview with a local radio station.

“I can see there are many SWAT teams arriving, they are all around,” Mendoza, speaking in Tagalog, had said. “I know they will kill me, I’m telling them to leave because anytime I will do the same here.”

For much of the day the gunman had appeared to be negotiating calmly with police and nine hostages, six Hong Kongers and three Filipinos, mostly women and children, had been released in stages.

Mendoza had asked for food for those remaining on the bus, which was delivered, and fuel to keep the air-conditioning going during the heat.

Mendoza’s brother, Gregorio, told a local TV station that his brother was upset by his dismissal from the force. Local media said he had been sacked for reasons including extortion, and due to his sacking he had lost his retirement benefits.

“His problem was he was unjustly removed from service. There was no due process, no hearing, no complaint,” said Gregorio, who was later taken into custody by police.

Stuck to the bus door was a piece of paper with the handwritten message: “BIG MISTAKE TO CORRECT A BIG WRONG DECISION”. A larger piece of paper on the front windshield was headed “RELEASE FINAL DECISION” and then what appeared to be details of his case.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy said it wanted police to “take all the necessary measures to secure the release and to protect the security and safety of our nationals”.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee told reporters authorities were very concerned about the incident. Two officials were being sent to Manila and a hotline was being set up in Hong Kong for families of the hostages.

The moment a bus driver nearly runs over a baby sitting in the middle of a major road

Close call: Bus driver Mike Hubbard sees something up ahead in the middle of the road and as he gets closer he realises it's a baby

Stunned: Mr Hubbard jumps out of the driver's seat and rushes over to the wide-eyed baby

Out of the blue: Then in a matter of seconds, the child's father runs over and scoops up the baby

Lucky girl: The baby has recently been identified as Destiny Flores, who is now aged two

This is the moment a shocked bus driver comes to a screeching halt within inches of a semi-naked baby sitting in the centre of a busy road.

It was just after midnight when Mike Hubbard, on his usual bus route, noticed a mysterious shape wriggling on the road up ahead.

At first he thought the ghostly figure might be a dog, but as he approached, the San Antonio driver realised it was a baby wearing just a nappy.
Mr Hubbard stopped just in time to avoid running over the infant.


Hero: The VIA bus driver is humble about his quick-thinking actions. He's just thankful that no one was hurt

Custody battle: A tearful Catherine Gonzalez tells local news network WOAI-TV that she and her husband had no idea Destiny had escaped from the house

'I was definitely in shock,' Mr Hubbard told local news station WOAI-TV.

'From a distance I can't tell exactly what it is. It looks like a dog, something moving around, I can't really tell what it was. I started slowing down and then I noticed it's a baby in the middle of the street.'

After slamming on the brakes, Mr Hubbard immediately jumped out of his seat to investigate.

'To me he looked like he was eight months old with a pamper, just sitting there. I couldn't tell if he was eating something or not. But, his eyes got real big when he saw the big old bus in front of him,' Mr Hubbard said.

Then strangely, as the driver checked to see if the baby was alright, the child's father suddenly emerged, scooped up the infant and ran off.

The horrifying moment was captured by a camera on the dashboard of the bus.
Although the incident happened last May, video footage of the moment has only just emerged for use as evidence in a current child custody case.

The lucky baby is in fact a girl, identified as Destiny Flores, now aged two.

The local bus company VIA, which services San Antonio - the second largest city in the U.S. south central state of Texas - reported the incident to child protective services.

Destiny's mother Catherine Gonzalez, 25, and her husband are now fighting to retain custody of all three daughters.

The couple said they were in the living room when they heard a horn and the loud screeching sound of the bus braking suddenly.

Mrs Gonzalez insisted that they had no idea Destiny had escaped from the house.
We had the door open, but there's a screen door. I had the lock on it, but I don't know, maybe I didn't put it all the way and she just snuck out. I really can't even tell you,' she told WOAI-TV.

'It was an accident, that's all it was. It could happen to anybody in the world, you know,' she said through tears.

'It was just an accident, that's all it was. It's not like we weren't paying attention, you know. I could have swore all my kids were in the back watching TV and they were doing fine. It was just the biggest accident and it hurts me.'

But what horrifies Mrs Gonzalez more is thought of what could have happened to her daughter.

Mr Hubbard has been hailed a hero, but the humble bus driver says he is just grateful he was able to stop in time.

Texas child protective services will decide in a few weeks if the girls will be allowed to stay with their parents.

South African bus crash kills 28 ahead of World Cup

Towing company employees inspect the wreckage of a bus



A South African police officer climbs in the wreckage of a bus


A South African police officer climbs through a roof emergency exit in the wreckage of a bus


South African policemen remove personal effects on the site of a bus accident

Transport officials in South Africa said they are confident about the safety of the country's roads ahead of next month's World Cup despite a bus accident that killed 28 people Wednesday.

"With 36 days to go to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, safe, efficient and reliable public transport, for South Africans and visitors alike, is a priority," said transport minister Sbu Ndebele.

"As government, we will not compromise the safety of innocent commuters," he said.

Ndebele was speaking after at least 28 people, including four children, were killed when an unroadworthy bus overturned northeast of Cape Town, in one of the country's worst-ever road accidents.

Between 20 and 30 people were injured in the crash, said Western Cape community safety spokesman Xenophone Wentzel.



The accident happened near Worcester, around 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Cape Town, as the bus travelled from the Eastern Cape province with around 80 passengers. It was meant to carry 64 people.

"The driver lost control of the bus, it then went through a barrier, overturned and then landed in the opposite direction it was travelling," Wentzel told AFP. "There was no other vehicle involved."

"This is one of the worst road accidents in the region and the country," he added.

A Western Cape traffic official said the privately owned bus had been suspended as unroadworthy last year.

Police have opened an investigation into culpable homicide against the driver, who is in critical condition in hospital.

Twenty-two people died at the scene, three at hospital and three bodies were found under the bus in the afternoon.

"Of the 28 people that died, four of them were children," Wentzel said.

Ndebele said his department would deploy mobile traffic control centres on major routes and around the nine World Cup host cities to ensure road safety during the June 11 to July 11 tournament.

"Mobile control centres will be in operation during peak traffic flow periods and match days. There will also be high visibility traffic patrols along key routes," he said.

South Africa's roads are among the world's most dangerous, with around 16,000 people killed every year -- an average of 45 a day.

A World Health Organisation study last year ranked South Africa ninth in the world in traffic fatalities, despite the country's relatively small vehicle fleet of 9.2 million.

The government has spent 2.6 billion dollars (1.9 billion euros) on transportation infrastructure ahead of the World Cup, including billions of rands to upgrade roads and poor public transport systems.

But some transport analysts say fans will still find travel difficult in a country more than three times the size of Germany.

Authorities said the bus in Wednesday's accident, which was registered to an individual, should not have been on the road.

"It was not supposed to be ferrying passengers. We do not know why it managed to get on the road," said provincial transport spokesman Solly Malatsi.

"This is blatant disregard for the law and we will ensure that there are serious consequences for the bus company or the owner concerned."

Several foreign embassies advise citizens to be cautious while driving in South Africa.

"Road conditions are generally good in South Africa," says the website of the US State Department.

"However, excessive speed, poor lighting on rural roads, and insufficient regulatory control of vehicle maintenance and operator licensing have resulted in a high and increasing number of traffic fatalities."

The British foreign office warns of inconsistent driving standards and many fatal accidents, which the French attributed to speeding, driver inexperience, pedestrians on roads, and drunk driving.

Firefighters cut free seriously injured passengers free from overturned double-decker bus as lorry driver is arrested

Five people were seriously injured when a lorry carry railway track smashed into a double decker bus today and overturning it in Clapham Junction, south London.Firefighters had to cut passengers free and eyewitnesses reported hearing people screaming

The overturned bus lies in the road as emergency services work at the scene

Eyewitnesses reported hearing people's screams coming from the vehicle after the collision

Firefighters had to free passengers trapped on a double-decker bus which overturned in the morning rush-hour today after a collision with a lorry.

The driver of the C3 bus was one of five people seriously hurt after the incident at around 8.30am in Clapham Junction, south London.

Police said the male driver of the lorry was arrested and is in custody at a south London police station.

The lorry was carrying railway track, which apparently smashed through the windows of the bus upon impact.

Three of the passengers were cut free by firefighters from Battersea and Wandsworth.

Police said that as well as the four passengers and the driver who had been seriously injured, a further 13 needed hospital treatment for minor injuries out of the 30 or so passengers on the bus.

Among the seriously injured was a 45-year old man, a-27-year-old woman and a third victim, aged 30, who were rushed to hospital after the crash.

Police closed off the scene in Plough Road following the smash at the junction with St John's Hill, which happened just yards from a primary school. No children were believed to be on board.

Eutan Jones, who manages a Caribbean cafe nearby, said: 'Everyone was crying out and shouting.

'They were cutting people out from the top of the bus, they cut the front of the bus off.

'I saw six or seven people taken away by ambulances. There was a lady who wasn't moving - I heard paramedics say she had hurt her spine. She looked smashed up a bit.

'The driver looked dead because he was just lying there not moving. They took the lorry driver away, but I don't think he was injured.

'I didn't see any children, but there must have been because it was an early bus and they would have been going to school.

'It was a railway lorry coming out of the rail depot. I think it hit the bus. There used to be a lot of accidents up here, but it is not too bad now.'

Barry Douglas, a chef, said: 'I heard a noise, it was a big bang and then I saw people running around making phone calls.

'As I came out people looked shocked and were saying 'I can't believe it'. I saw people trying to get off the bus, but others just froze.

A local 45-year-old mother-of-two, who declined to give her name, said: 'I heard the ambulances going by and went down the road to see what had happened.

'I saw a lady on a stretcher being put into an ambulance and I was crying because I don't like to see things like that. I've never seen anything like this before.'
The bus was taken away a few hours after the crash. Some of its upper windows were smashed and it seemed to be gouged on the side.

The lorry was still there at that time and some streets remained cordoned off.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'The air ambulance and London Ambulance Service attended.

'Four passengers and the bus driver were taken to hospital by land ambulance suffering serious injuries. A further 13 people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

'Officers from the Collision Investigation Unit at Hampton are investigating.

'The male driver of the lorry has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently in custody at a south London police station.

'The scene is likely to remain cordoned off for some time. We advise motorists to avoid the area and take alternative routes.'

The C3, run by the Abellio company, operates between Earl's Court and Clapham Junction.

Transport for London said there would be a full investigation into the incident.

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