Fatal Accident Occurs in North Cotabato Province, Highlighting Road Safety Concerns.

MINDANAO: The incident happened in the afternoon on a major road in Antipas municipality in North Cotabato province on the second-largest island of Mindanao.

The 17 dead were the driver and passengers of the van, police Captain Godofredo Tupaz told AFP. Earlier, the death toll was 13.

Among the fatalities was a six-year-old child, who died in hospital, Tupaz said.

Another passenger is being treated for injuries.

The driver of the dump truck and his two passengers survived, Tupaz said, adding that the driver was in police custody.

Witnesses reported that the brakes of the truck appeared to fail before the collision happened, disaster official Mic Garfin told media.

Garfin said the van caught fire, possibly because of the impact of the crash.

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Deadly road accidents are common in the Philippines, where drivers frequently flout the rules and vehicles are often poorly maintained or overloaded.

Debate over Tajik involvement in Moscow attack raises concerns for Russia’s alliances

The recent terrorist attack at Crocus City concert hall in Moscow, Russia sparked heated debate within Russia regarding the alleged involvement of Tajik nationals in the incident, many of whom are migrants from the country of Tajikistan.

The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group, claimed responsibility for the recent attack at the concert hall that resulted in the deaths of over 130 people.

Such debate risks harming Moscow’s relations with its staunch Central Asian ally Tajiskistan, at a time when Russia faces international isolation due to its war with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry cautioned against the dissemination of “fake information” about the alleged role of Tajik nationals in the attack. The ministry stated that an official confirmation from Russian authorities was needed before drawing any conclusions.

While ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the mass shooting, Tajikistan has not received official confirmation of Tajik involvement from Russian authorities.

The attack garnered condemnation from several Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with offers of solidarity and assistance to Russia in combating terrorism.

The Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu talked about the threat posed by extremism, particularly the ISIS-K. He stated that Russia needed to prioritise military security in the Central Asian region.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has also been mentioned in discussions surrounding regional security concerns. CSTO is a Russian-led security alliance comprising Tajikistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.

As per reports, an increase in ISIS-K militants in Afghanistan has been observed. The group is reportedly focusing on spreading its ideology and conducting subversive activities along the southern borders of the CSTO member states.

Meanwhile, survivors of the attack reported lapses in security measures at the Moscow venue, including a failure to check bags and inactive metal detectors.

The investigation into the Moscow terror attack is currently ongoing, with Russian authorities having arrested 11 suspects so far.