Disaster in Isabela: Newly Built Bridge Collapses, Injuring Six
ISABELA – Six people were injured when a newly built bridge in Isabela suddenly collapsed, causing panic among residents and authorities.
At least six individuals sustained injuries when a section of the newly completed Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela collapsed on Thursday evening. The incident sent four vehicles, including a dump truck loaded with stones, plummeting into the dried-up riverbank of the Cagayan River, authorities reported.
According to the Cabagan Rescue Team 911, five of the injured suffered minor wounds and received treatment at the Milagros Albano District Hospital. However, a young boy, who sustained critical head and body injuries, was transferred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center for further medical care.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council identified the damaged vehicles as a dump truck, two sports utility vehicles, and a motorcycle. Authorities reported that the truck driver and a helper were unaccounted for and were suspected to have fled the scene.
Investigation and Assessment
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Cagayan Valley confirmed that the third span of the 990-meter, nine-span bridge collapsed around 8 p.m. on Thursday. Engr. Mathias Malenab, officer in charge of DPWH-Region 2, stated that the agency had yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse. Additional technical evaluations from experts at the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction from the DPWH-Central Office were requested.
Originally funded with P639 million in 2017, the bridge’s completion was initially scheduled for 2019. However, multiple delays pushed its completion to 2021. Further structural issues discovered that year led to an additional P274.8 million in retrofitting work, which was only finalized on February 1, less than a month before the collapse. In total, the bridge project had cost P1.22 billion since its commencement in November 2014.
The bridge, designed with 12 arch bridges and 60-meter nine-span prestressed concrete girders, had not yet been formally inaugurated, though it had already been opened for public use.
Safety Measures and Warnings
Following the collapse, only light vehicles were permitted to use the adjacent overflow bridge. The DPWH has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while passing through the area as investigations continue to determine the cause of the incident.
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