3 pocket miners die in Abra tunnel

Bangued, Abra , Philippines  – Three pocket miners died of suffocation in a tunnel in remote Lacub town, not in an explosion as earlier reported.

Senior Superintendent Joseph Adnol, Abra police director, said investigators were still looking into the death of Felix Rosario, Junie Lingbaoan and Federico Lang-odan in a tunnel on Mt. Bumurayok in Barangay Buneg, Lacub town.

Like their counterparts in Benguet, small-scale miners in this province do not carry breathing devices or oxygen supply when entering tunnels.

There have also been several cases of suffocation in Itogon, a mining town in Benguet.

These incidents have prompted Benguet officials to convene a small-scale mining summit to discuss safety measures.