On September 16, 1972, a few days before the declaration of martial law, the Colgante bridge in Naga City collapsed, killing 114 Roman Catholic pilgrims who were celebrating the feast of their patroness, Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.
Most of the victims were either drowned or crushed to death on boats beneath. The tragic incident happened when 1,000 faithfuls rushed to the 15-year-old bailey bridge to watch with
excitement the fluvial procession that would bring the image of their patroness from Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to her shrine. A number of broadcast journalists covering the event also perished in the tragedy. One of them is Miss Mila Obia who was announcing the approach of the religious image using her local dialect when the bridge suddenly collapsed.
Incidentally, this was the second time that the bridge claimed many lives during a fluvial procession. In 1948, the old Colgante bridge–which was only a suspension-type back then–fell into the river and left 30 people dead.
Reference:
may mom used to share me this story, that my grand lola was one of the survivors when the bridge first collapsed in 1948.
TumugonBurahin