RIVER GEE – More than 25 towns in the Tienpo Administrative District of River Gee County have been left isolated following the sudden collapse of the River North Bridge.
By: Peter P. Toe, Jr.
The collapse occurred on Wednesday, June 18, after several hours of torrential rainfall caused the River North to overflow its banks. The surge of floodwaters swept away the aging bridge, severing the main route used for daily transportation, commerce, and access to essential services.
Residents and travelers are facing extreme difficulty navigating the area. With no alternative crossings in place, even commercial motorcyclists have resorted to physically carrying their motorbikes across the river to continue their journeys.
Local residents say the situation is worsening daily as movement of food, goods, and passengers has come to a near standstill.
The collapse has also critically affected access to healthcare. The River North Bridge served as a major route for transporting patients to the Fish Town Referral Hospital, the main medical center in the region.
With the bridge now gone, ambulances and other emergency services are unable to reach patients in time, putting lives at serious risk.
“The situation is unbearable,” said one resident. “We can’t take our sick to the hospital. We can’t go to market. Children can’t go to school. We are completely cut off.”
Local leaders and affected citizens are now calling on the national government, particularly the Ministry of Public Works, to intervene urgently. They are demanding immediate reconstruction of the bridge to restore connectivity and prevent further suffering.
“This bridge is not just concrete and steel—it is the lifeline for dozens of communities,” one elder stated. “We need help now. We cannot wait.”
As of press time, the Ministry of Public Works had not issued an official response to the incident.
