3 more miners rescued; 5 still trapped

CAMP BADO DANGWA, Benguet – Three more miners were rescued yesterday, bringing to nine the survivors that were recovered from the flooded mine tunnel in Itogon town with five others still trapped inside the mining area.

Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin, Cordillera police director, identified the latest rescued miners as Mario Ayanasan, 32, of Bauko, Mountain Province; Gilbert Nattem, 26, of Banaue, Ifugao, and Rudy Buling Jr., 24, of Banaue, Ifugao.

Rescuers found last Monday and Tuesday survivors Gerry Monyubda of Quirino province, Jayson Himmayod of Maddela, Quirino; Robert Mabulway of Asaclat, Nagtipunan, Quirino; and Gary Gano of San Manuel, Maddela, Quirino.

The combined rescue teams from the Philippine Navy Special Operations Group of Naval Forces Northern Luzon based in Poro Point in La Union, Benguet Corp., Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Rescue 911, Phil. National Red Cross, Baguio Emergency and Medical Services, also recovered last Sunday miners Ngitit Pagulayan and his cousin Jose Panio Jr., of Hingyon, Ifugao.

Two other miners identified as Joel Bulga and Vincent Himmayod were found dead last Thursday and Friday.

The miners were trapped in more than five feet deep floodwaters brought by heavy rains spawned by typhoon “Nina” last Sept. 22 that flooded the mining tunnel that has not been operational for months.

The rescuers found the survivors at shaft 114, level 700 of the tunnel, owned by Benguet Corp. in Barangay Poblacion in Itogon.

The three latest survivors were found almost simultaneously at shaft 90 level 700, more than 200 meters from the tunnel entrance.

Bulig said he survived by reaching a higher shaft that was not hit by the rising waters. He finally saw the rescue workers wading through the waters below, carrying glowsticks, and shouted to them.

Anayasan described how they were almost swept away by the sudden water flooding in. But Anayasan said he too managed to scramble to a higher ledge, a move that saved his life.

He said his younger brother Joseph was among the five still missing, adding that he had not seen him since the flood hit.

Anayasan said he and Joseph almost drowned when they were engulfed by the murky floodwater.  

“I do not know where he (Joseph) was swept. I still hope that my brother is still alive,” he said.

Nattem said he stayed in a small shaft throughout his ordeal at shaft 90 level 700. 

He said the water was chest deep. “I did nothing but pray and pray,” he said in the local dialect, adding that he almost lost hope and had relied on God for his survival.

Although weak, doctors said the latest three rescued were in relatively good health despite their lack of food and exposure to the cold. – With Artemio Dumlao, AP