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Thursday, November 03, 2005
Mine rescue on hold sans equipment: civil defense
DAVAO CITY -- Hopes of rescuing 13 miners trapped inside a mine tunnel get dimmer a week after the incident in the gold-rush site of Mount Diwata in Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley.
Until Wednesday, rescuers were still unable to reach the cave-in site estimated at 850 meters deep from the portal.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 11 chief Carmelito Lupo said the rescuers have so far reached 600 meters into the tunnel from the entrance. Lupo cited as the reason the presence of heavy fumes inside the tunnel.
Lupo said they are still waiting for the high-tech equipments to be loaned by Philex Mining Corporation and Lepanto Mining to aid them in the rescue and retrieval operation.
They were expected Wednesday but has not yet arrived as off afternoon of the same day.
Television reports on Tuesday said rescuers are still hopeful that the trapped miners would still be alive. Rescuers cited the presence of stopes inside the tunnel where air and water reserves are stored in case of emergencies.
JB Management and Mining Corporation (JBMMC) mines operations manager Richard Aquino said there are about two stopes with emergency stock between the tunnel opening and the cave-in area.
Each emergency stock in a stope, which measures 5x8 meters, could provide water and air to as many as 8 persons.
A stope is a step-like excavation made by mining ore.
Aquino added there is a 50-50 chance for the trapped miners to reach the stopes as these are also not easily reached.
It's also possible that the fumes have already reached the areas.
As of Wednesday, latest reported pegged the dead at 11 and trapped miners at 13.
Lupo said no one could actually tell the real condition of the trapped miners now.
He assured though that they are doing their best to reach the miners as soon as possible. (BOT of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(November 3, 2005 issue)
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