CAUAYAN CITY – Forty-three students and seven teachers fell simultaneously when the hanging bridge they were crossing collapsed in Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo Cauayan, Police Major Glanery Cabeliza, Chief of the Alfonso Castañeda Police Station, said the teachers and students from Abuyo National High School were heading to a nearby sitio for their intramurals when the incident occurred.
Three victims, two females and one male, were rushed to the hospital after experiencing body pain, chest tightness, dizziness, and nausea.
The remaining victims were brought to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) for a check-up, but they were later sent home after being cleared of any serious injuries.
According to PMaj. Cabeliza, the bridge, made of ropes, was already old and might not have been able to support the weight of the students crossing at the same time, causing it to break.
The height of the bridge was estimated to be around three to four meters, with the victims falling onto sand and rocks. The collapse happened as they neared the end of the bridge.
Cabeliza reminded the public to avoid crossing hanging bridges simultaneously, especially older ones, to prevent similar incidents in the future.