Van plunges into ravine

PHILIPPINE police say at least 14 people have died when the brakes of an overloaded passenger van failed while cruising a winding road, sending it down an 80m ravine in a northern mountain province.

Police Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana says 24 other passengers, including the driver, were injured on Tuesday afternoon in Balbalan town in Kalinga province.

Some of the dead were poor elderly villagers returning home after collecting government cash dole-outs.

Police say 13 passengers were pinned to death.