Two killed in mine accident

Two miners were buried alive in an underground accident at the Philex Mining Corporation in Mountain Province, northern Luzon, recently, a belated report said.

The victims were Patrick M. Siwagon, 28, a shift supervisor, and Emilio K. Aguid, 48, a miner.

While the second shift of employees were mining at Philex's mining area in Tubao, there was a sudden rush of water from the ground which clogged the tunnel.

"The two miners were trying to unclog the tunnel by using explosives when the accident occurred," said Engineer George Baywong Jr. in his investigation report.

The bodies of Siwagon and Aguid were retrieved from the debris after being buried for 29 hours.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) demanded that the firm put in place safety measures such as the construction of an emergency access and concrete barriers in the mining tunnel.