2 weeks ago
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CABAGAN, Isabela — Six people were hurt as the third span of the 720-lineal meter bridge connecting this town to Santa Maria town has collapsed at 8 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2025, disaster and police officials said.
Four vehicles, including a dump truck loaded with stones, were on the part of the bridge that crumbled and fell into the shallow river below.
The Cabagan Rescue Team 911 reported that five of the victims had sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Milagros Albano District Hospital in this town.
A boy, who was critically hurt due to head and body injuries, was immediately brought to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council of Cabagan reported that two sports utility vehicles, a motorcycle and a truck were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. The truck driver and the helper, however, were not around when first responders arrived at the scene. The police believed they had fled the area after the incident.
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The police also said only light vehicles are being allowed to pass the bridge as retrofitting works on the bridge had been just completed.
The bridge was initially funded with a P639 million budget in 2017 and supposed to be finished by 2019 but was only completed in 2021. However, structural defects were found in the same year.
An additional P274.8 million was needed for the retrofitting works.
The DPWH-Cagayan Valley said in a statement that the technical assessment is still ongoing and that they warn motorists to take "extra caution" in passing the overflow bridge beside the damaged bridge.
