Bodies of 2 missing fishermen found in Albay mining pit

LEGAZPI CITY — After almost two days of retrieval operations, authorities recovered on Tuesday the bodies of two missing fishermen who drowned in an abandoned mining pit in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Capt. Dante Bonafe, chief of the Rapu-Rapu police, said the bodies of Orly Bisco, 40; and Timoteo Balunzo, 30; both from Barangay Calanaga, were recovered from more or less 30-feet deep in the mining area in Barangay Batan at around 3 p.m.

“The rescuers had to pump out water from the mining pit to retrieve the victims,” Bonafe said.

On Monday afternoon, Ervin Veloso of Barangay San Roque in Tabaco City and Salvador Bata of Barangay Villahermosa, Rapu-Rapu were found lifeless in the area.

READ: 2 fishermen drown in Albay mining pit, 2 others missing

Reports said the victims went to the area to get a submersible pump when the incident happened at 5:30 p.m. (Editor: Eden Estopace)