27 Filipinos injured in Spain bus crash; one remains in coma, passenger tells TFCN
Cover image: Screenshot from Gizelle Anga-anga/Kim Cabral video
BARCELONA, Spain — Twenty-seven Filipinos were among the passengers injured when a public bus plunged down an embankment in Catalonia, Spain, on Sunday afternoon, October 25, with one Filipino reportedly remaining in a coma, according to an injured passenger interviewed exclusively by TFCN.
Kim Luis Cabral, 28, said the Filipino passengers were traveling together aboard a Sagalés public bus when the accident occurred along a mountain road in Fogars de Montclús, in Barcelona province.
Cabral said all 27 Filipinos in their group were brought to hospitals following the crash. Some have since been discharged, while several others continue to receive medical treatment.
Cabral is now recovering at home but continues to experience pain and difficulty walking because of his injuries.
"Sa hita po buong legs po puro pasa, balakang ko po sobrang sakit saka sa leeg po, hirap pa po ako maglakad,(My entire legs are covered in bruises. My hips hurt terribly, and I also have pain in my neck. I still have difficulty walking)," Cabral told TFCN.
Filipino passenger remains in coma
Cabral said he remains concerned about his friend, a fellow Filipino passenger who is reportedly confined in an intensive care unit (ICU).
“Opo kaso may nasa ICU pa po kaming friend... comatose po hindi pa po gising,(Yes, I know her. We still have a friend in the ICU. She is in a coma and has not woken up yet),” Cabral said.
Her condition has yet to be independently confirmed through hospital authorities or her family.
The accident has left the affected Filipino passengers and their families anxiously awaiting updates on the condition of those still hospitalized.
Cabral also told TFCN that, as of the interview, no representative from the Philippine Consulate had visited the injured Filipinos.
The reported absence of a consular visit has yet to be independently verified.
Bus was packed with passengers
Cabral said the group boarded a regular public bus operated by Spanish transport company Sagalés while traveling from the Montseny area toward Sant Celoni.
The vehicle was identified in Spanish media reports as a Sagalés bus operating on Route 573, which serves the Montseny area.
According to Cabral, the 27 Filipinos were traveling together, alongside passengers of other nationalities.
“Lahat kami pinoy nakaupo po, pero puno po ang bus, may mga nakatayo po hanggang sa pintuan ng bus (All of us Filipinos were seated, but the bus was full. There were passengers standing, even near the bus door),” he said.
His account of the crowded bus comes as Spanish authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the number of passengers standing when the vehicle went off the road.
Bus plunged down embankment
The accident occurred at approximately 4:43 p.m. local time on Sunday along the BV-5114 road in Fogars de Montclús, near Barcelona.
The bus reportedly plunged approximately 20 meters down an embankment, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
Spain's public broadcaster RTVE reported that emergency medical services attended to 87 people following the crash. Initial assessments classified 49 as having minor injuries, 31 as having less serious injuries and seven as seriously injured. No fatalities were reported.
Rescue teams deployed ambulances, medical helicopters and firefighters to evacuate passengers from the accident site. Authorities also used specialized rescue equipment to search the surrounding area for possible additional victims.
As of Tuesday, October 27, 25 people remained hospitalized, 11 of them in serious condition, according to an update from Catalonia's health department reported by La Vanguardia.
The overall figures cover passengers of all nationalities and do not establish how many Filipinos remain hospitalized.
Authorities investigating cause of crash
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, is investigating the accident.
Spanish authorities are examining whether the bus was carrying an excessive number of standing passengers. The vehicle reportedly had 65 authorized seats.
Investigators are also examining the circumstances that caused the bus to leave the road. The driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs, according to RTVE.
Sagalés said it was cooperating with emergency responders and the relevant authorities to help establish the circumstances of the crash. The company's stated priority was the care of affected passengers and the driver.
Authorities have yet to announce a definitive cause.
Consular assistance remains a concern
Cabral's account also raises questions about the assistance being extended to the injured Filipino passengers, particularly those who remain hospitalized.
He told TFCN that no Philippine Consulate representative had visited the group as of the interview.
The status of any consular coordination or assistance extended to the Filipino passengers remains to be established.
Meanwhile, the affected Filipinos continue to deal with the physical and emotional consequences of the accident as they recover from their injuries.
As Spanish authorities continue their investigation, the Filipino passengers and their families await further updates on the condition of those still receiving medical treatment.
