The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Wednesday confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two of the three Filipinos who were reported missing after a bridge collapsed in Taiwan.
In a radio interview, MECO Chair Lito Banayo said one of the bodies was recovered at midnight while the other was one was found at around 4 in the morning.
Labor officials in Manila identified the two fishermen as Andree Serencio and Jake Impang.
Banayo said Taiwanese authorities are still looking for the third missing Filipino.
Earlier reports said six people, including the three Filipino overseas workers, were reported missing after a bridge in Taiwan collapsed and fell on the fishing vessels berthed underneath.
As of press time, rescue and retrieval operations are still ongoing at the site of the incident in the city of Nanfangao in Taiwan’s east coast.
According to initial reports, the collapsed bridge damaged three fishing boats and two vehicles, including a tanker.
MECO officials said the families of the two Filipinos have already been duly notified about the deaths and vowed to help in the repatriation of the two victims to the Philippines.
In the same interview, Banayo said the suspension bridge’s rusting cables and strong winds the night before due to Typhoon Mitag are the likely reasons for the collapse.
