World · Philippines Bureau
Footbridge collapses under weight of steel-laden truck in South Cotabato
A pedestrian footbridge in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato gave way on Saturday while supporting a heavy truck laden with steel bars, leaving residents dependent on makeshift bamboo crossings to traverse the river.
LSN Philippines ·
KORONADAL CITY — A footbridge spanning a river in Barangay Denlag, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, collapsed on Saturday, October 24, as a truck carrying steel bars traversed its structure, according to local officials.
The incident forced the bridge's structural integrity to fail, with a section suddenly giving way under the load. The collapse rendered the footbridge unusable for pedestrians, many of whom rely on the crossing as part of their daily routines.
In the immediate aftermath, residents were forced to resort to makeshift bamboo walkways to cross the river, creating safety concerns and disrupting normal movement through the area. Local government officials, including Sangguniang Kabataan Kagawad Jericho Palmaera Layang, assessed the damage and documented the incident.
The collapse highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges in remote areas of South Cotabato and raises questions about bridge load capacity and maintenance standards in the province. Local authorities have not yet announced plans for repairs or structural assessments of similar facilities in the region.