At least 22 people were killed and dozens more injured after a passenger bus plunged from an elevated highway at a suburb in Manila, officials said on Monday (December 16).

An initial investigation said the bus had veered off from the elevated highway in Manila's suburb of Paranaque in the early morning and crashed onto a van, immediately killing the van's driver.

The police said 10 people died on the spot when the bus plunged into a van below. Most of the victims were passengers on the bus as there were only two people inside the van, suggest local reports.

The Philippine Red Cross reported at least eight people, including the bus driver, were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the accident, but suggested it could be due to the wet road.

A similar accident happened in 2011 when a passenger bus fell off an elevated highway, killing three people.

Philippines