Mine pit collapse kills one worker

CEBU, Philippines - A dump truck operator of Carmen Copper Corporation died after he fell into the Carmen pit last Wednesday at Barangay Biga, Toledo City.

It took 17 hours for employees of the Gallo Equipment and Mining Corporation, contractor of Carmen Copper, to retrieve the body of Harren Plarisan, 24, of Barangay Magdugo, Toledo City.

SPO1 Thule Tahadlangit, the responding investigator, said Plarisan was with other workers who were hauling waste materials with an excavator when suddenly a portion of the pit collapsed.

“Nikalit ra ug ariya ang yuta sa pangpang. Nagdinaganay ang mga trabahante pero paglingi nila wala na diha (Plarisan) unya abli na ang driver’s door. (The land suddenly collapsed. The workers ran and Plarisan was not there anymore while the driver’s door was already open),” Tahadlangit said in a phone interview.

The police believe that Plarisan immediately tried to evacuate from the truck by jumping out but unfortunately, a portion of the land fell on him.

Plarisan fell in the pit which reportedly was 25 to 30 meters deep.

“Nag-tilt na ang truck sa ibabaw unya wala nay taw. Pagkahulog niya (Plarisan) nadahilian pa siya sa mga bato ngadto sa ubos. (The truck was already tilting. When he (Plarisan) fell, stones also fell on him),” Tahadlangit said.

The incident happened around 3 in the morning but Plarisan’s workmates were able to retrieve his body past in the evening.

Based on the investigation of the police, no signs of foul play was found. —/ATO (FREEMAN)