NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – Rescuers recovered on Sunday the bodies of six miners buried alive in a tunnel that collapsed in Magpet town in North Cotabato.
Siblings Jeneto and Jeyrold Flores, Frigel and Romnel Senados, and couple Marion and Aileen Catubay were digging for gold when the tunnel in Sitio Kaumpig in Barangay Temporan collapsed over the weekend.
Reports said the victims had no permit from the local government unit.
Barangay Temporan head Yolly Bernabero said they learned of the victims’ plight from their companion, Jefrey Flores, who managed to dig his way out of the tunnel.
Flores died in a hospital while undergoing treatment for his injuries.
The municipal government of Magpet has ordered the immediate closure of the illegal mining site in Barangay Temporan to prevent a repeat of the incident.