Worker Body Recovered After Fall at Minatobashi Bridge Site in Koror

Overview:

A construction worker who fell into the water at the Minatobashi Bridge project site in Koror has been found, a day after he was reported missing. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which adds to a growing number of fatal workplace accidents involving foreign laborers in Palau.

KOROR, Palau (April 21, 2026) — The body of a construction worker who fell into the water at the Minatobashi Bridge project site was recovered Friday, a day after he was reported missing.

Aerial view of Koror showing green islands against azure blue ocean. — The current Minatobashi bridge connects Malakal Island and the Malakal port to the rest of Koror State. It is the main artery connecting Palau’s only seaport to the rest of the country. The improvement work funded by the Japanese government will build a second bridge adjacent to the current bridge.

Authorities identified the worker as MD Hossein, a Bangladeshi national employed by Surangel & Sons Construction, a subcontractor on the bridge repair project.

Hossein was part of a crew working on the bridge Thursday, April 16, when he reportedly fell into the water and did not resurface. Initial search efforts that day were unsuccessful.

Search operations resumed Friday, when his body was found floating further down the channel near the Palau International Coral Reef Center.

Officials have not released details on how the incident occurred, citing an ongoing investigation.

Hossein’s death marks the third fatal workplace accident involving Bangladeshi contract workers in Palau this year. In February, two Bangladeshi nationals were killed in a separate incident when a vehicle struck them as they were carrying out road drainage work.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the latest incident. (By: L.N. Reklai)