Honor student killed, 14 hurt as tornado hits bus in Zambales

MANILA, Philippines - A candidate for high school valedictorian was killed while 14 were injured after a tornado caused their school bus to overturn in Zambales province Monday morning. Radio dzRH reported that the incident occurred along the national highway at Salaza village in Palauig town in Zambales, at 10 a.m. The fatality was initially identified as Paolo Mara, 15, a fourth-year student at the Zambales National High School and a candidate for valedictorian in his class. Making the incident more tragic was that the fatality is the son of a single parent. Initial investigation showed the bus was heading for Zambales Norte when a tornado hit it and caused it to overturn. Mara hit his head on a post. The other passengers were rushed to the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital where they are now under observation. Palauig is a third-class town with a a population of 29,983 people in 5,945 households. - GMANews.TV