5 Bulacan miners die of suffocation in tunnel

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – They went down a tunnel looking for gold hoping for a better life, but it ended their lives.

Police reports reaching Camp General Alejo Santos in this city said Abner de la Peña, 25; Nelson de la Peña, 21; Jonathan Lopez; 19 and Christopher Baisan, 38, and certain Boyet, all of Barangay Tumana in Baliuag town died of suffocation after going down a 25-meter deep tunnel at Sitio Balaong, Barangay Talbak in the mountain town of Doña Remedios Trinidad on Thursday.

Their companions identified as Jonel Pedro, Andy Tan and Mario Videña 56, all residents of Barangay Talbak managed to climb out of the tunnel and survive.

Chief Inspector Lorenzo Paynor, chief of police of Doña Remedios Trinidad town said the victims died of suffocation due to the gasoline-fueled water pump they brought inside a tunnel.

 Paynor said miners reached the tunnel around 11:30 a.m. Thursday armed with information gathered from their friends that there is gold deposit inside the said tunnel.

The victims went down and started pumping out water, but minutes later, they suffered shortness of breath. Pedro, Tan and Videña immediately climbed up the tunnel and survived but the others were left behind.

Village officials and residents were able to pull out the other victims later and rushed them to a hospital in the nearby San Ildefonso town but it was too late.

Paynor said they are now gathering information to identify the person who gave the victims information about the alleged gold deposit in the tunnel.

Vice Mayor Liberato Sembrano of Doña Remedios Trinidad meanwhile, warned other possible miners for similar activities.