Overview:
A construction worker is presumed dead after disappearing underwater at the Minatobashi Bridge project in Malakal. As search efforts continue, the tragedy casts a shadow over one of Palau’s most critical infrastructure upgrades. What safety measures should be in place for high-risk projects like this?
Tragedy strikes major Japan-backed infrastructure project in Malakal
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (April 16, 2026) — A construction worker is presumed dead after failing to surface while working at the Minatobashi Bridge construction site in Malakal on Thursday.
The worker, a Bangladeshi national identified by his first name, “Mo,” was employed by Surangel & Sons Construction. Sources said he was conducting work on the new bridge when the incident occurred.
Bureau of Public Safety Director Curtis Elobt confirmed the worker is presumed to have drowned. Search efforts were launched Thursday afternoon and continued into the evening before being suspended. Officials said the search will resume Friday.
The incident occurred at the site of a $12 million bridge reconstruction project funded through a grant from the Government of Japan. The project is part of long-standing bilateral cooperation between Palau and Japan and aims to replace the aging Minatobashi Bridge, originally built during Japan’s administration of Palau.
The new bridge, scheduled for completion in April 2027, is considered critical infrastructure. It connects Malakal Port to Koror and supports key economic activities, including the movement of more than 4,000 cargo containers annually, fuel transportation, and access to hotels and commercial centers.
The Minatobashi Bridge has long served as a vital link to Palau’s main port and economic hub, stressing the importance of the ongoing reconstruction project despite Thursday’s tragedy.
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