Benguet mining tunnel tragedy claims seven lives

Seven small-scale miners died due to suspected gas poisoning inside an abandoned pocket-mining tunnel in Sitio Dontog, Barangay Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet. The incident occurred on the night of September 30.

Authorities recovered the bodies from a tunnel portal the following morning. Six of the deceased were young men from Barangay Bana-ao in Tadian, Mountain Province, while the seventh victim was a resident of Cagayan Valley.

Investigators believe the deaths were caused by lethal, accumulated toxic fumes, such as carbon monoxide or methane, trapped within the unventilated, disused shaft. Local authorities and emergency response teams are conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the exact cause of death and the specific circumstances surrounding the tragedy.