After a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Cagwait town of Surigao del Sur at 10:32 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, the bridge connecting nearby Tago town to the provincial capital city of Tandag remained safe for passage, provincial officials said.
Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel assured the public the bridge was still safe for passage past Sunday midnight after he dispatched a joint inspection team from the provincial engineer’s office along with the maintenance crew from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to check on the bridge’s condition.
‘Based on the engineers’ assessment, the visible cracks on the bridge were not structural but were expansion joints designed to move and absorb vibrations during an earthquake,’ Pimentel said. ‘There is no damage to the main structure.’
Despite the favorable findings, however, the province implemented some precautionary measures to ensure public safety: Only one vehicle is allowed to cross the bridge at a time, and traffic enforcers have been deployed on both sides to control the flow.
Light vehicles such as motorcycles, tricycles, pedicabs and private cars are permitted to pass but are reminded to strictly observe the no-stopping zones.
Six-wheeler trucks had to unload their cargo before they are allowed to pass, pending further structural assessment by DPWH engineers; while 10-wheelers and fully loaded trucks are advised to take alternate routes until clearance is given.
‘The safety of our people is our top priority,’ Pimentel said. ‘We are asking for the public’s patience and cooperation as we continue to monitor the situation and conduct further evaluations,’ he added.
The provincial government continues to coordinate with local and national agencies to ensure the structural integrity of existing public infrastructures and to keep the mobility across Surigao del Sur safe in the aftermath of the tremor.
Tago town Mayor Jelio Val C. Laurente also inspected another bridge connecting his town to La Paz, Agusan del Sur and assured that despite the cracks that appeared, the bridge remained passable to all types of vehicles. Laurente, however, also urged motorists to cross slowly and exercise caution.
Teams from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and their local counterparts are currently conducting structural assessments and closely monitoring the situation.