4 ‘rescued’ in minesite ‘disaster’

TUBA, Benguet — It was the height of a typhoon. Heavy rains poured and strong winds lashed at this town, causing the museum of Philex Mining Corp. to collapse.

Unluckily, four employees were trapped inside the two-story building. The other personnel quickly alerted the command post of Philex’s disaster management center and in seconds, sirens wailed. Soon, disaster response teams were on their feet and searched the debris for the four trapped workers.

The first victim was unconscious, pinned by a table. The second was conscious but wounded, a locker pinning him to the wall. The third complained of pain in his spine. And the fourth, a female employee, was trapped in another room.

In less than 25 minutes, all four "victims" were rescued from the rubble and were rushed to the hospital at the minesite.

The rescuers’ leader thanked his men for a job well done and returned to their posts, happy that they saved four lives.

Such was the scenario at the mock disaster drill at the Philex minesite in Pacdal this town Tuesday morning.

Experts of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau led by mine safety engineer Felizardo Gacad and officials of the Office of Civil Defense witnessed it and were one in saying that the "rescue" was well-executed. — Artemio Dumlao