2 Benguet miners found alive

ITOGON, Benguet — Rescuers found yesterday two survivors out of 12 remaining miners who were trapped in a tunnel here since Sept. 22 when heavy rains brought by typhoon “Nina” flooded the mining area.

George Baywong, an engineer of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, said the rescued miners were identified as Ngitit Pagulayan and his cousin Jose Panio Jr., both of Hingyon, Ifugao.

Baywong said rescuers heard the shouts of Pagulayan and Panio, who were found at around 3:45 p.m. at shaft 114, level 700, about 50 meters from the opening of the tunnel owned by Benguet Corp. in Barangay Poblacion, Itogon. The mine tunnel had not been operational for months.

Pagulayan and Panio were brought to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, said Baywong.

Submerged for several days

Panio’s older brother Jaylord, who briefly talked with his brother inside the ambulance that brought them to the hospital, said the two miners were submerged for several days in five feet deep floodwaters.

Jaylord said his brother and cousin managed to hang onto an elevated platform and stayed together until they were rescued.

He said the two miners survived inside the dark tunnel, without food for eight days by rationing the two liters of drinking water that they brought with them when they entered the tunnel last week.

Jaylord said the survivors claimed that the air vent at shaft 114 is working but the floodwater was deep.

The two survivors were very tired and had many bruises and abrasions but they didn’t seem to suffer from any serious injury.

Jaylord said the two miners do not know where the remaining miners are trapped.

Two bodies were recovered last Thursday and Friday. The victims were identified as Joel Bulga and Vincent Himmayod.

Baywong said the recovery of two survivors has lifted the spirit of the rescuers who believe that more would be rescued.  

“Buhay pa mga yun (They are still alive), at least, yun ang gusto kung isipin (that’s what I want the rescuers to think),” said Baywong.

Baywong said the tunnels have air vents, which was confirmed by the survivors. The vents could provide oxygen to the trapped miners.

The rescuers, residents and families of the trapped miners are now more optimistic that the trapped miners are still alive.

The relatives claimed that their prayers to “Kabunyan” (Cordillera Supreme God) during an indigenous ritual last Sunday had indeed paid off.

Four teams of miners, who were briefly trained by Philippine navy divers to operate in submerged areas, returned into the tunnel that is still flooded by murky waters.

Baywong said the rescuers are trying to pump the water out of shaft 114. They are also using mechanical blowers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to help dry up and ventilate the tunnel.

Rescuers would divert the water from level 400 to level 700, so that the teams can penetrate the area where the remaining miners are trapped.

Members of one of the rescue teams have reported that the water level in level 700 is now 5 inches.