3 workers suffocate to death inside deep well

MANILA, Philippines—Three workers died of suffocation inside a farm’s deep well in Pangasinan, police said Wednesday.

Senior Inspector Ryan Manongdo, Pangasinan police spokesman, identified the fatalities as Noli Boy Rillorta, 30; Arman Mejia, 19; and Chrisanto Pamparo.

Manongdo said the victims were killed at the deep well of Lucky 888 Farm located at Barangay (village) San Macario Norte around 10:30 a.m.

A radio report said that Rillota went down the 15-meter deep well to conduct some repairs, but failed to climb back after losing consciousness.

This prompted Mejia and Pamparo to try to save him by going down, but they, too, collapsed and eventually died, the report said.

Manongdo quoted Dr. Felix Briones, municipal health officer, as saying that the three victims died due to “insufficient supply of air inside the deep well.”

Police were still investigating the case.