DOLE to repatriate remains of two Filipino fishers who died after Taiwan bridge collapse
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the Philippine labor office in Taiwan is facilitating the repatriation of the remains of the Filipino fishermen who died after a bridge collapsed and fell on fishing boats in Taiwan, Tuesday.
Citing a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Taiwan, DOLE Information and Publication Service Director Rolly Francia identified the two Filipino fishermen as Andree Abregana Serencio and Gorge Jagmis Impang.
“We will assist in the repatriation of human remains,” he said in a statement.
“Our POLO, through the welfare officer, already notified the families of the victims," added Francia.
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Wednesday also confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two of the three Filipinos who were reported missing after the bridge collapsed.
In a radio interview, MECO Chairman Lito Banayo said one of the bodies was recovered at midnight while the other was one was found at around 4 in the morning.
Gov’t assistance
On instructions of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Francia said all possible assistance will be extended to the family of those killed in the incident.
Francia said death and other benefits will also be provided including scholarship benefits to the victims’ children.
"Impang is an active OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) member and next of kin will receive all benefits. Serencio is OWWA inactive member as of 2017," he said.
Francia said another Filipino fisherman, Romulo Ilustrisimo Escalicas Jr., remains missing but search and rescue is still ongoing at the site.
5 Filipino fishermen injured
Earlier, DOLE said five Filipino fishermen were also injured due to the incident.
The five fishermen were identified as Julio S. Gimawa, Jason N. Villaruel, Allan H. Alcansano, John Vicente Royo, and June B. Flores.
Meanwhile, an AFP report said that the National Fire Agency in Taipei said that two bodies were retrieved in the waters near a boat stuck underneath the shattered bridge while the others were found near a badly damaged boat that was dragged out from under the structure on Tuesday.
“The search and rescue mission continues," transport minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters, adding evidence was being collected to ascertain any culpability.
Bridge collapse on CCTV footage
Dramatic CCTV footage captured the moment the 140-meter long singlearch bridge came crashing down in Nanfangao, on Taiwan's east coast early on Tuesday morning.
In the video, a vertical cable at the center of the bridge's steel arch suddenly snaps.
The road then collapses into the water, crashing down on three fishing boats as a petrol tanker which nearly made it across also plunged into the water.
Twelve people were injured, including six Filipino and three Indonesian fishing workers, the Taiwanese driver of the petrol tanker, and two coastguard personnel, the AFP report said.
The petrol tanker burst into flames at some point after it hit the water, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air.
Prosecutors have launched a probe into the cause of the collapse.
The local landmark was completed in 1998 and spanned a small fishing port. It was featured in a number of TV dramas and commercials. (With reports from Roy Mabasa and AFP)