BUTUAN CITY – A rescue operation is ongoing as of Tuesday morning to save six workers of small-scale mining trapped when the site they were working caved in around 7 p.m. Monday (Oct. 12) in Barangay Bayan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.

The Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO) identified the trapped mine workers as Eduardo Ponyar Ubas, 38; Jerome Selot Locaberte, 25; Menard Lariba de Jesus; Angelito Napolis Sicop, 42; Jonathan Reyes Ocson, 36; and Leo Deloperi Reyes, 23.

The workers are all residents of Marihatag town in Surigao del Sur, SDSPPO said in a report.

Another mineworker, identified as Nonito Banas delos Reyes, 56, was rescued and brought by responding authorities to a local hospital, SDSPPO said.

“We cannot determine yet the status of those who were trapped. Our personnel, with the support of other units, are still in the area conducting rescue operations,” SDSPPO director, Col. James T. Goforth, told the Philippine News Agency Tuesday morning.

Goforth said the victims were gold panning inside a 30-foot excavation when the hole caved in.
 
“The six were completely trapped inside the 30 feet hole while the other one rescued was slightly covered by debris right at the entrance of the mining hole,” Goforth said.

He added that the local government unit of Marihatag has also sent its rescue team in the area to help in the operations.

The small-scale mining site has been operating in the area since Sept. 9 this year and is owned by a certain Bobong Antoniano, police said. (PNA)