62 ESCAPE BURNING METRO SHUTTLE BUS IN DAVAO DE ORO; SAFETY EQUIPMENT QUESTIONED

Over 60 passengers narrowly escaped tragedy on Monday afternoon, June 29, after a Davao Metro Shuttle passenger bus burst into flames along the National Highway in Purok 10, Barangay Tuburan, Mawab.

The harrowing incident, which occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m., triggered widespread panic as thick, suffocating smoke rapidly engulfed the vehicle's interior while it was en route to Nabunturan.

A Dramatic Escape

According to initial reports from the Mawab Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Mawab, the fire originated in the front engine compartment. Because the fast-spreading flames immediately blocked the primary entrance and exit door, passengers were forced to find alternative ways out.

Dramatic video footage captured by nearby residents and shared widely on social media showed the terrifying moments commuters scrambled to survive. Amid the heavy smoke, passengers managed to pop open the side emergency exits and kick open windows. Desperate to escape the encroaching heat, several individuals were seen leaping directly from the elevated windows onto the hard asphalt of the highway.

While onlookers feared the worst due to the chaotic nature of the escape and the heights from which people jumped, local authorities confirmed a miraculous outcome.

Casualties and Damage Assessment

Police and emergency responders confirmed that all 62 individuals on board—consisting of passengers, the driver, and conductors—successfully evacuated the vehicle alive. No fatalities or critical injuries were reported, though the bus driver sustained minor abrasions during the commotion.

Responding firefighters from BFP Mawab arrived quickly at the scene and officially declared a "fire out" at 5:53 p.m.. However, the intense blaze left the Davao Metro Shuttle unit completely charred and reduced to a metallic frame. Fire investigators estimate the structural and material property damage at approximately ₱2 million.

Investigation and Safety Reminders

Initial findings by fire arson investigators point to a severe electrical short circuit within the engine bay as the primary trigger for the sudden blaze.

Following the incident, the BFP and local transport regulators issued a stern reminder to all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers to conduct strict, routine maintenance checks. Authorities emphasized the importance of inspecting electrical wiring and ensuring that functional fire extinguishers are easily accessible inside commercial buses to prevent future road disasters.

Traffic along the National Highway in Barangay Tuburan was temporarily disrupted while emergency crews cleared the burned wreckage, but regular flow has since been restored.

LTFRB Issues Show Cause Order to Davao Metro Shuttle After Bus Fire in Davao de Oro

Photo Courtesy: LTFRB Region XI - Davao

2150 - 06302026 — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-11) has officially issued a Show Cause Order to the management of Davao Metro Shuttle following a highway bus fire that forced dozens of passengers to escape through emergency windows.

The regulatory agency, alongside the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), has launched a parallel investigation into the incident to assess potential lapses in vehicle maintenance and safety compliance.

The Incident

The fire broke out at around 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Km. 67 along the national highway in Purok 10, Barangay Tuboran, Mawab, Davao de Oro. The public utility bus was traveling from Tagum City and was en route to New Bataan town when the blaze suddenly erupted near the front entrance.

The rapid spread of the fire blocked the primary exit door, causing brief panic. Netizen footage captured on social media showed desperate commuters kicking out and jumping through the vehicle’s emergency windows to escape the thick smoke.

Joint Emergency Response

Fortunately, all 62 individuals on board, including the driver and conductor, managed to evacuate safely without any reported injuries.

Soldiers from the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, stationed nearby at Camp General Manuel Yan, quickly deployed a military fire truck to assist municipal firefighters. Moving viral across local news networks, the combined efforts of the Philippine Army and BFP successfully contained the blaze, declaring a complete "fire out" by 6:00 p.m..

Safety Concerns and Damage Assessment

Initial assessments by fire investigators place the total property damage at approximately ₱2 million.

The investigation has also raised safety concerns. Mawab Fire Station Ground Commander SF02 Alvin Hubiera noted that an on-the-spot inspection of the fire scene yielded no evidence of a functioning on-board fire extinguisher being utilized during the initial outbreak. Following the incident, the BFP has renewed public reminders urging transport operators to ensure functional safety equipment is present on all units and advising passengers to move at least 100 feet away from burning vehicles during roadside evacuations.

Davao Metro Shuttle management is expected to respond to the LTFRB’s Show Cause Order to explain why its franchise should not be suspended or revoked over the incident.