MANILA, Dec. 24 : Seven people have been killed and one critically injured after a van crashed in South Cotabato province in southern Philippines, a town spokesperson said Tuesday.

Emil Sumagaysay, the municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer of Tupi town, said the accident happened along a descending road past 3 p.m. local time on Monday.

He said the van’s brake failed, causing the car to ram into a roadside tree, killing seven passengers at the scene, four women, including two minors, and three men.

The victims were visiting tourist spots in the area when the crash occurred.

“The driver, who survived although critically injured, was thrown off the driver’s seat through the vehicle’s windshield,” Sumagaysay said in a radio interview.  (Xinhua) :