Second Tarlac bridge collapses; 4 missing

MANILA, Philippines — A portion of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City collapsed on Saturday night due to strong river currents spawned by the southwest monsoon, as several rescue teams continue their search for four missing people who were in a vehicle that fell into the river after the bridge slump.

The bridge was used as an alternative route after the Aquino Bridge, also in Tarlac, collapsed on Friday.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH would construct a temporary steel bridge to reconnect the collapsed middle section of the Aquino Bridge.

Dizon ordered the immediate installation of safety barricades and a comprehensive structural assessment following the collapse of the bridges due to heavy monsoon rains and strong currents from the Tarlac River.

He said strong, debris-laden river currents washed away a central concrete pier, causing a major bridge segment to plunge into the riverbed.

“I have dispatched engineers from Metro Manila to assess what quick engineering solutions we can implement to make this Aquino Bridge passable to light vehicles,” Dizon said.

“Tarlac City is currently cut off from direct access, with motorists forced to detour through Gerona,” Dizon said. “I have ordered immediate temporary repair works on the Agana Bridge to restore local connection as quickly as possible.”

The Tarlac City government identified those missing as Paul Harvey Collado, James Patrick Taborlupa, Sheila Mae Taborlupa and Shonen Tuhaw.

Emergency response teams, including the Philippine Air Force, were able to rescue passenger Nathaniel Dizon shortly after the incident, but the four others are missing, the city government said.

A joint search operation is being conducted by the city and provincial disaster risk reduction and management offices, military, police and other units.

In Olongapo City, a 60-year-old man was found dead inside his vehicle, which got trapped in floodwaters about four feet deep along Sta. Rita Road in Barangay Mabayuan on Saturday.

Authorities suspect that the man might have suffered a heart attack while he was trapped inside the vehicle, although the exact cause of death is yet to be determined.

The incident occurred as heavy rains caused flooding and difficult road conditions in several areas in Pampanga and Pangasinan.

Phivolcs warns of lahar flows

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has urged communities in Central Luzon to remain highly vigilant as prolonged and intense southwest monsoon rains may trigger muddy streamflows, runoff and non-eruption lahars from the Mt. Pinatubo watershed.

It advised people to pay special attention to the Pasig-Potrero River system, which drains from the Pinatubo area toward downstream communities, warning that heavy and prolonged rainfall may remobilize volcanic deposits left from the 1991 eruption.

Residents living near rivers, waterways, drainage channels and other identified hazard zones are advised to monitor official advisories and be prepared to take precautionary or preemptive measures when instructed.

In Pangasinan, preemptive evacuation was ordered in low-lying communities, including Agno, Aguilar, Bani and Bayambang towns. — Ric Sapnu, Cesar Ramirez