Search for 4 missing as vehicle plunges into river after Agana Bridge collapse

SEARCH and rescue operations remained underway on Sunday to locate four passengers of a multi-purpose vehicle that plunged into the river following the collapse of Agana Bridge in Tarlac City on Saturday night, according to the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The incident occurred at around 8:32 p.m. on August 29, when the bridge gave way under the weight of the Toyota Avanza carrying five people amid heavy monsoon rains and powerful river currents. The PAF’s Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon and Tactical Operations Group 3 have been deployed to lead the search efforts, focusing on the stretch of water where the victims were last seen.

Of the five passengers aboard the ill-fated vehicle, one person has been recovered and rushed to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Authorities, however, continue to race against time to find the remaining four individuals who remain unaccounted for. Responding teams have concentrated their operations near the vicinity of Aquino Bridge, combing the river and surrounding areas in the hope of locating the missing passengers before nightfall or as water levels continue to fluctuate.

The Agana Bridge collapse marks the second major bridge failure in Tarlac City within just two days, coming barely 24 hours after a portion of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge also gave way due to strong river currents eroding its foundation.

Both structures have been closed to traffic, prompting the Office of Civil Defense Region 3 to announce that rerouting schemes will be implemented to manage the flow of vehicles in the area. Joining the search efforts are teams from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the 522nd Engineer Construction Battalion, and the 7th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, working together to recover the missing persons and assess the broader damage caused by the twin bridge collapses.