Four individuals, including a foreign tourist, were confirmed dead while 20 others survived after the fatal Clarin Bridge collapse in Loay, Bohol on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Loay Mayor Hilario Ayuban, local government units have already deployed coast guard personnel and fishing boats for the ongoing search and retrieval operations for the April 27 incident.
Authorities have yet to verify the identity of the victims. A total of 10 vehicles including two trucks, two truck vans, and four private vehicles fell in the Loboc river.
Local authorities said the passage of many cargo vehicles in the area might have caused the bridge collapse.
“Mayroon tayong tulay sa kabila, may madadaanan pa tayo. one lane lang tayo dahil may tinatrabaho sa isang tulay rin,” Ayuban said.
Malacañang already condoled with the families of the victims “who perished with the collapse of a bridge” and prayed “for the swift recovery of those who got injured.”
“Authorities are currently conducting an investigation even as we assure everyone, especially affected residents and communities, of government assistance,” Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said in an April 28 statement. – Report from John Aroa/ KC-ag