Draft:Colgante Bridge collapse

The Colgante Bridge tragedy occurred on September 16, 1972, when a bridge in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines, collapsed during the celebration of the feast of Peñafrancia, as it had carrying the weight of spectators waiting for the ongoing fluvial procession along the Naga River. Reported deaths ranged from 111 to as high as 138. The event occurred days before the imposition of martial rule by then president Ferdinand Marcos.

History
Background

The old Colgante Bridge was located in Barangay Peñafrancia, Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines, spanning the Naga River.

Colgante is a Spanish term for "hanging, suspension bridge". At the time of the incident, the bridge was described being not a suspension-type; but variously, either as a bailey or as a wooden.

According to the city-based local paper Naga Times, prior to the end of Spanish rule in the country, in the Peñafrancia fiesta in 1898, Filipino civil guards killed Spanish civilians in their revolt; the number would be surpassed by the 1972 incident.

Accident

On September 16, 1972, Saturday, during the year's fiesta celebration, the annual fluvial procession along the Naga River was bringing back the images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the patroness of Bicol, and Divino Rostro, to the Peñafrancia Shrine after the novena  at Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. Before the pagoda was to pass halfway to its destination, at about 4:20 p.m., the bridge fell from the weight of hundreds of waiting spectators as authorities were unable to control the large crowd; many people were hit by debris, while some by fellow devotees and onlookers.

Casualties

Some of the victims were immediately brought to the Colegio de Sta. Isabel and other hospitals for treatment. The tragedy killed 138 devotees and onlookers, mostly caused by drowning or electrocution as live wires hit the river; over a hundred more were injured.

Reporting on the disaster, Naga Times, in its issue dated September 24, said that the official death toll by then was 111, which was said incorrect.

<!---It was also reported that some 20 damage suits against the city, related to the accident tagged as the worst in the city, were "expected to be filed this week".

Accounts

According to Ina: Little Stories of Faith, the book recounting the tragedy with narratives of some survivors, many devotees and onlookers gathered on the bridge to watch the procession. The book also mentioned the account of one of the victims, Santiago Ojeda, revealing the events prior to the disaster. Ojeda had brought a video camera and voice recorder to the bridge, the latter was later recovered. He recorded his words: "this bridge is full of people and I don't see anyone directing traffic here. Some years ago, the same bridge collapsed due to the heavy weight of devotees and onlookers watching the fluvial procession. Now it's beginning to sway a little. I'm afraid it won’t hold out much longer unless someone tells those people to stop adding their weight to it. The bridge is now swaying..."

Reactions

Representative Felix Fuentebella reportedly announced the release of for the construction of a replacement span. Fuentebella and Ramon Felipe Jr. asked for help for the victims' families, initially collecting in Congress some  in cash and pledges.

Then Bicolano Ozamiz Bishop Jesus Varela reportedly sent his condolence.

A Naga Times columnist stressed that the tragedy was due to the blatant disregard of the possible danger, citing radio reporter Vic Flores, who reportedly warned people before he, along with the other victims, fell into the water.

Media coverage and the martial law

News on the incident became known throughout the country, only to be eclipsed by the imposition of martial law by then President Ferdinand Marcos, which was issued on September 21 and announced on September 23.

Local journalists had been raising funds for the victims prior to the imposition of the martial rule, which was unnoticed in the city because of the tragedy.

Notably, weekly local newspaper Naga Times carried as headline stories both the tragedy and the presidential declaration in what would be its last issue on September 24. The paper was among those closed; while its editor-in-chief and a Marcos critic, Atty. Luis General, was arrested on September 25 and detained by the military a day later in Camp Canuto in Pili, Camarines Sur, along with several other journalists. --->