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Bodies of 3 of 6 trapped miners in Surigao Del Sur recovered


The bodies of three of the six miners trapped in a tunnel in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur have been recovered while search was ongoing for the other three, a municipal disaster official said Thursday.

"As of 12 p.m., may na-recover na kaming tatlo, 'yung tatlo, on process pa," Gerry Avila, officer of Marihatag's Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), told GMA News Online.

"Medyo nahirapan 'yung tinatawag naming abantero, 'yung nasa pinaka-ilalim... siya kasi 'yung ano, masikip masyado 'yung ilalim, isa lang ang kasya," he added.

Avila said they are hoping that they will finish the search and retrieval operations within the day.

"'Yung tatlo siguro nagpatong-patong na 'yun, 'yun ang pinaka-flooring ng tunnel. Madali na 'yun, pagkuha ng isa, tuloy-tuloy na 'yun..." he said.

Avila said those involved in the operations found it very difficult to retrieve the bodies of the miners (initially reported as treasure hunters)  as the tunnel was too narrow and that the water inside was already contaminated.

"'Yung sa amin, kagabi na sana namin gustong tapusin pero nahirapan kasi 'yung mga abantero, napakabaho na. Contaminated na talaga 'yung water, every three to five minutes, nagtitimpla kami ng sabon at saka Zonrox para mag-normalize 'yung baho kasi masu-suffocate ka sa baho sa ilalim," Avila said.

Initial investigation on the incident, which happened on Monday, indicated that incessant rain may have soaked the area that led to the collapse of the tunnel. —KBK, GMA News

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