25 dead in Manila road crashes

A mangled, burnt-out wreck was all that was left

At least 25 people were killed and several others injured in two pre-dawn road accidents in the Philippines on Monday.

A petrol tanker hit a coach parked on a road in the Manila suburb of Paranaque, causing both vehicles to burst in flames, police said.

Twelve people on the coach were burned to death and two pedestrians were killed, while the tanker driver survived.

In a separate incident in another Manila suburb, Bocaue, 11 people were killed when a trailer lorry crossed lanes on a main road and collided with a bus.

The accident, at about 0200 local time (1000GMT), was believed to have occurred after the lorry driver fell asleep.

President Gloria Arroyo said she was "deeply saddened" by the carnage and conveyed her condolences to the families of the dead.

She also ordered the arrest of those responsible.

"The loss of lives of innocent people could have been avoided had everyone concerned observed proper road safety precautions," she said.