A school bus driver takes a risky shortcut - driving through a flooded river with a coach full of young pupils.<br /><br />The coach packed with students and teachers accelerated across the San Isidro River in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. <br /><br />Heavy rains had caused it to swell and after the vehicle plunged into a deeper part, strong currents almost washed it away.<br /><br />But luckily the driver’s gamble paid off and the bus emerged safely on the other side of the river on October 20. <br /> <br />Onlooker Jerlyn Dalagan said: ‘’I held my breath when the bus was crossing. It looked like it wasn’t going to make it over. It could have been a disaster.’'<br /><br />Local officials said that vehicles sometimes take the shortcut across that part of the creek.<br /><br />Christopher Ebal from the Department of Public Works and Highways said they were now raising funds for a bridge. <br /><br />He said: ‘’The river is really unsafe especially during the rainy season. We tried to use a steel structure but it got destroyed. We really need a bridge.’’
