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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Retrieval of trapped Itogon miners 'unsuccessful'
BAGUIO CITY -- Retrieval operations for the 14 miners trapped in a mine site in Itogon, Benguet remained unsuccessful Wednesday with low oxygen and strong currents keeping rescuers from performing their work.
Rescue operations had to cease at 10 a.m. with no recovered person, due to the poor condition inside the mine.
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Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Cordillera Director Neoman dela Cruz said rescue teams could not work inside the mines, where 14 pocket miners were trapped at the height of Typhoon Nina Monday.
Dela Cruz said members of the rescue group who entered the mine at 7:15 a.m. came out with no one recovered at 10 a.m. due to the high level of water and low oxygen inside the mining area.
"The water level was chin high and the oxygen level was low at 17.7 percent," dela Cruz said.
For an individual to survive inside, he said the oxygen level must be at 19 percent or higher.
As of Wednesday, responding groups at the mine site were awaiting a compressor borrowed from the Benguet Mining Corporation to help supply air to rescuers.
Landslides triggered by the heavy downpour trapped the 14 miners at the egress of Gold Field at Purok 7 in Poblacion, Itogon.
Groups conducting the search and retrieval operations include teams from the Benguet Mining Corporation and Philex Mining Corporation.
Other responding teams came from the Philippine National Red Cross-Benguet for provision for food and medicines; Department of Health (DOH)-CAR for the propositioned cadaver bags, medicines; Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC)-Benguet Relief Committee for provision of food; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for 150 family packs for families affected near the site; Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for deployment to support rescue and retrieval team; Philippine National Police (PNP) for security; 911 on Call for documentation and provision for medical assistance; and the Association of Private Miners.
Aside from the 14 miners trapped in the Itogon mine, Typhoon Nina also left three persons dead and 19 others wounded after a flood and four landslides hit Itogon, La Trinidad and this city.
Those killed in two landslides in Baguio were identified Wednesday as Lolita Baroma, 76, and Juan Baroma, both residents of 172 Guisad Surong; and Lielany Fetcha, 38, who lived at 155 Dominican Extension.
Of those injured, 11 were identified as residents of Baguio; six of La Trinidad, Benguet; and two of Itogon municipality.
All 19 victims were rushed to nearby hospitals after their houses were covered by separate landslides.
The Office of Civil Defense meantime reported an estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture at P349,000. (Jane Cadalig/ENO/Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
Related Story:
14 trapped in Itogon mine
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (September 25, 2008 issue)
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