Zamboanga hanging bridge collapses; 6 hurt

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least six people, including a village chairman, were seriously injured after they fell with the hanging bridge that collapsed in a remote village of Midsalip town, Zamboanga del Sur, according to police yesterday. 

Superintendent Nelson Eucogco, spokesman of Police Regional Office (PRO) 9, said the victims were fixing the hanging bridge in Sitio Corigos, which connects the two villages of Barangay Timbaboy and Barangay Balili in Midsalip town when it collapsed about 1 p.m. Friday.

The victims were identified as Rodolfo Camadote, 47, barangay chairman of Palili; Benito Salomon, 52; Romy Suncalang, 35; Balbora Antonio, 51; Bebito Fuentes, 30; Paquito Caparoso, 72; all residents of Barangay Palili.

Further investigation showed that one of the posts foundation of the bridge collapsed while the victims were all hanging in the bridge to repair the structure in time for the fiesta.

“The victims were all in the bridge when it collapsed altogether with the hanging bridge,” Eucogco said. 

The victims and the hanging bridge structure fell on the river that separated the two villages, Eucogco said.

They were immediately rescued by the villagers present during the incident and rushed them to the nearby Midsalip Infirmary Hospital for treatment. 

However, Camadote, Salomon, and Sungcalang, who were seriously injured, were later transferred to Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center for further treatment.