ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two people were killed while five others were injured when a wooden footbridge collapsed under the weight of up to 70 people who wanted to view fireworks.
The accident happened shortly before midnight Thursday in a village in this southern port city’s east coast.
Television reports identified those killed as Nurwina Jul-arsi, 14 and Unggah Akinnang, 17. Wounded were Anas Asnalun, 26; Arnold Asnalun, 23; Ibnar Bakay Amannang, 27; Elias Rohmon; and Amir Halilillah Ayub.
The incident took place in Taluksangay, a village 19 kilometers east of the city center.
Yunos Baginda, a driver who rushed one of the five wounded to the hospital, said the footbridge collapsed after one of its posts gave way.
“Mga 50 to 70 tao ang umakyat sa hanging bridge upang makapanood ng fireworks sa bayan,” Baginda said. (There were 50 to 70 people who climbed up the bridge to watch the fireworks.)
He said the hanging bridge was as high as 30 feet, and one can clearly see the fireworks in the downtown area from that vantage point. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)