2 schoolkids drown in Antique bridge collapse

Two elementary school pupils died while three others remain missing after a hanging bridge collapsed in Antique on Wednesday afternoon, a belated police report said Thursday. Juvy Espino, 11, and Nellybeth Aretano, 14, died of drowning after the bamboo bridge they were crossing collapsed at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the report said. The fatalities were on their way home after classes at the Barangay Santiago Elementary School in Laua-an town when the bridge collapsed due to the strong current caused by heavy rains, according to the police.
Three other schoolchildren who were crossing the bridge, identified as Risa Aretano, Keith Manuel and Margie Demetrio, remain missing as of posting time, police said. Local police and rescue teams are still conducting search and rescue operations to find the three missing victims, the report said.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV