A dump truck operator was buried alive in a mine pit accident in barangay Biga, Toledo City, southwestern Cebu.
The body of Harren Plarisan, a 24-year-old resident of barangay Magdugo, Toledo, was retrieved from the rubble in the mine pit of Carmen Copper Corp.
The victim was taken to the Toledo District Hospital where he was declared dead.
Police said the accident occurred around 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Plarisan was in his dumptruck while a backhoe was loading materials onto the truck when a portion of the mine pit collapsed.
Plarisan jumped out of the truck only to be buried by boulders. The mine operates 24-hours during workdays.
The driver of the backhoe was unharmed, said Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of Toledo City Police Station.
Cebu Daily News tried to get the side of the Carmen Copper Corp. but the person who was authorized to speak about the incident was reportedly in a meeting./CORRESPONDENT CHRISTINE EMILY L. PANTALEON