7 miners die in Surigao City gold tunnel — police

TAGUM CITY – At least seven miners died of possible suffocation while working in a gold tunnel in Surigao City Thursday, police said Friday.

Only 19-year-old Berdan Avila got out alive after he and his seven companions entered the shaft at Sitio (sub-village) Fili, Mabini village around 9 a.m., according to Superintendent Martin Gamba, Caraga police regional spokesperson.

The eight workers were supposed to transfer a hose to an adjacent tunnel but were unable to come out, Gamba said.

Gamba identified the fatalities as Jomar Estrella, 26, of Barangay Gacepan, Sison, Surigao del Norte; Delvin, 21, and Dexter, 18, all surnamed Antipas, both of Tinago Malimono, Surigao del Norte; Arnel Palasan, 22, of File, Malimono, Surigao del Norte; Julius Mayola, 26, of Brgy Tinago, Malimono, Surigao del Norte; Basty Porlas Avila, 23, of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur; and Paustino Abendan Pacquiao, 22 years old, resident of P-15, Mat-I, Surigao City.

“Their companions outside tried to rescue them by dropping a rope but only Berdan Avila made it to safety,” he said.