A SMALL-SCALE miner died while another was injured when the tunnel where they work collapsed in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police reported on Friday.

Senior Superintendent Romulo Cleve Taboso, Zamboanga Peninsula Police Regional Office (PRO) spokesman, said the incident occurred at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in the village of Little Baguio, Imelda town in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The fatality was identified as Ernesto Abadilla Sr., 54, and the wounded as Jerry Bandiang, 38.

Investigation showed the victims were drilling when suddenly the tunnel collapsed after they hit "a soft and watery soil."

Tabaso said other miners managed to rescue Bandiang and rushed him to a hospital around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Abadilla's body was retrieved around 11 p.m.