Bridge collapse leaves 4 missing

Four of five passengers aboard a Toyota Avanza remain missing after the Agana Bridge collapsed beneath the vehicle in Tarlac City on 29 August.

According to a social media post by San Isidro, Tarlac City, the five passengers were crossing the bridge at around 8 p.m. when it gave way, sending the vehicle into the raging waters of the Tarlac River.

One passenger, Nathaniel Taborlupa Dizon of La Paz, Tarlac, was rescued, while four others remain missing. They were identified as Shanen Tuhao of Cavite; Paul Harvey Collado of Maliwalo, Tarlac City; James Patrick Taborlupa of Maliwalo; and Sheila Mae Taborlupa of San Rafael, Tarlac City.

Rescue teams continued search and rescue operations along the Tarlac River on Sunday while authorities assessed the condition of the collapsed Agana Bridge.

Harold Javier, the brother of one of the missing passengers, posted photos of the four on social media and appealed to the public to help locate them.

“We humbly ask everyone to please share this post as widely as possible. If you have any information or have heard of any recent updates regarding the missing individuals, please reach out and let us know,” Javier said.

“Please share. Every share may help bring him home.”

Meanwhile, the body of a pregnant woman who was among the passengers of a capsized boat on Lake Mapanuepe in San Marcelino, Zambales, was recovered on Sunday.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the woman was the last of the 13 passengers reported missing after the motorized banca capsized on 27 August.

The group had been returning to Sitio Lumibao from Buhawen Proper after receiving vaccinations at the barangay center and attending a 4Ps meeting.

The motorized banca reportedly overturned while the group was on its way home, with overloading cited as the suspected cause of the accident.