Miners die of poisoning

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines  – Three small-scale miners in a gold mining tunnel at gold rush areas in Agusan del Sur were killed due to toxic poisoning Saturday.

Belated report from Bunawan Municipal Police Office identified the three victims as Ryan Gayon, 24, single; Benjamen Calan, 28, single; and Jeffrey Ausa, 25, married. All are residents of Barangay Bilangit, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.

Initial police investigations made by Bunawan police claimed the three miners were found dead inside the gold rush tunnel in Purok 2-C Barangay San Andres, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur by their companions.

Autopsy results claimed the three died of toxic poisoning but the autopsy could not determine what kind of chemicals the three used in their small-scale mining activities that led to their untimely deaths.    – Ben Serrano