4 private miners killed in Benguet in past week

MANILA, Philippines – Four private miners were killed in separate incidents in Itogon, Benguet last week.

Narciso Pigas Segundo, 50, married, miner, and a resident of Bet-ang, Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet was killed after being buried alive inside a private tunnel last Thursday afternoon, November 24. 

Segundo entered the private mine tunnel in Manganese, Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet at about 2 PM of November 24. The adit dips to about 5 meters deep and while Segundo was mining inside, a landslide buried him. He was still able to order his nephew who was a meter away to call for help.

Rescue workers and residents tried to bring Segundo out of the rubble, but they were only able to do so after two hours. He was declared dead by the Itogon Municipal health office due to asphyxiation and multiple bodily injuries. 

Meanwhile, Rosalino Api-it Narciza, 54; Barry Rimando Api-it, 36; and Santiago Falikao Banganan, 32, died due to gas poisoning last November 22.

At nearby Fatima in Ucab, Itogon, witnesses said Narciza went inside his abandoned private mine tunnel in the morning to take out his mining equipment.

However, he failed to emerge from the tunnel and his nephew Barry Api-it followed suit. When Api-it also failed to come out, Banganan brought out their large blower to remove the carbon monoxide that lingered inside. However, he, too, failed to come out.

Rescuers arrived and were able to bring out the body of Banganan first at about 3:30 pm. The others were brought out minutes later.

The bodies did not bear any injuries and died mainly of gas poisoning. – Rappler.com