Typhoon kills three more in Philippines

Baguio City: Three people were killed, raising to seven the total number of fatalities as typhoon Hagupit [locally known as Nina] hit northern Luzon, and left behind 16 missing, including 13 miners who were trapped inside a flooded mine tunnel in the north, a report said.

"We are going to suck the water out of the mine tunnels where the 13 miners were trapped between two and four Tuesday morning in the mining site of Benguet Mining Corporation in Itogon town. Hopefully they are still alive," said Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan.

"Not one of the miners had breathing apparatuses when they went underground," said Fongwan.

"Pumps cannot suction the water out of the tunnel. We are planning to blast the mine entrance to create a passage way for the water, but the entire mining site might cave in," said Cordillera regional police director Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin.

With inputs from Artemio Dumlao, Correspondent