4 die, 1 survive tunnel methane gas poisoning in Nueva Vizcaya

Photos courtesy of Victor Martin

Four people died while one survived a methane gas poisoning inside a 10.5-meter-deep tunnel in Magsaysay Hills, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya on May 6.

The victims were identified as Jeremias Padilla, 64, a resident of Sawmill, Mabuslo, Bambang; Selvino Mendoza, 63, a resident of Banggot, Bambang; Dionisio Alisen, 62, from Antutot, Kasibu; and Marlon Mateo Orden, 38, Barangay Kagawad and resident of Barangay Magsaysay Hill in the said town while the survivor was identified as Marlon Siopon, 32.

Siopon said he went inside the hole with a rope tied around him. When he inhaled a strange smell followed by sudden dizziness, he immediately waved the rope to signal that he needed to be pulled up. He lost consciousness before he was pulled.

According to the residents, Kagawad Orden immediately responded when he found out that the three victims were trapped inside the tunnel but he was unable to survive the poison.  

Meanwhile, due to the lack of adequate equipment, the responding team asked the rescue personnel of Didipio Mine of Oceana Gold based in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya who immediately responded with their modern equipment.

It was around 3:00 in the afternoon when they started to enter the pit where the first victim was taken out lifeless, followed by the second victim who was taken out at 6:04 in the evening.

The said retrieval operation was carried out through the cooperation of combined forces from the Red Cross, PDRRMO, DENR, MDRRMO, PNP Bambang, BFP, and Oceana Gold rescue team.# Mae Barangan // FNS