6 teens hurt as hanging bridge snaps in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Six female teenagers were injured when a suspension bridge gave way Wednesday in Candelaria, Quezon, police said.

Superintendent Arsenio Bantayan, Candelaria police chief, identified the victims as Clarisse Beronia, 13; Cherre Ann Meneses, 15; Ellaine Villapando, 13; Jazz Rosales, 12; Renz Cueto, 15; and Bless Atienza, 15.

Bantayan said the hanging bridge snapped while the six victims were crossing it at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

He said one of the old steel cables of the bridge that connected the villages of Poblacion and Malabanban Norte suddenly snapped causing the victims to lose their balance and tumble into the river 15 feet below.

The youngsters suffered serious injuries to the head and body and were confined at the Peter Paul hospital in the town proper, Bantayan said.