DAVAO CITY, the Philippines, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Eleven people died after two passenger vehicles collided in a southern Philippine city on Monday, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident happened when a passenger van slammed into an oncoming jeepney during a heavy downpour along a highway in the village of Batomelong in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, said Chief Inspector Yol Hilado, district police chief in the area.

Hilado said one of the van's tires blew, causing the vehicle to careen and hit the jeepney around 3:45 p.m. local time.

Most of the dead were passengers of the van while drivers of both vehicles are among the injured, officials said.

An investigation into the incident was underway.

The Philippines has seen an increase in deaths related to road accidents in recent years.

Over 10,000 Filipinos were killed due to traffic accidents every year, which have been blamed on bad road conditions, poorly-maintained vehicles and ill-disciplined drivers.