Engineer, miner, die in Tuba tunnel suffocation

TUBA, Benguet – Two males were killed of suffocation after they were trapped in a water source tunnel here at Millsite, Camp 6 on August 13 at 12:30 p.m.

Police identified the casualties as engineer Arnold Galicgic Yapyapan, 49, native of Bagnen, Bauko, Mountain Province and presently residing at Km 3, La Trinidad, Benguet and Jay-ar Sakew Apanan, 25, single, native of Baler, Aurora Province, employed at Camp 6, small scale mining owned by a certain Mateo Daping.

Investigation disclosed at about 9 a.m. that day, the victims together with a certain Rufino Basngi entered the water source tunnel to fix the pipes.

While they were inside, they collapsed due to lack of oxygen. However, Rufino was able to crawl out of the tunnel, immediately reported the incident and called a rescue team from Philex Mining Corp. The bodies were retrieved at about 4:45 pm. that day.