Business · Philippines Bureau
Firefighter, two miners killed in Surigao tunnel collapse
A Bureau of Fire Protection responder and two small-scale miners died Monday in a mining tunnel mishap in Surigao City. The incident claimed the life of Fire Officer 3 Rumar Mahinay, a member of the agency's Special Rescue Force.
LSN Philippines ·
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — A mining tunnel accident in Surigao City claimed three lives Monday, including a senior firefighter who was part of a rescue operation at the site, authorities confirmed.
The Bureau of Fire Protection identified the fallen responder as Fire Officer 3 Rumar Mahinay, 41, a decorated member of the agency's Special Rescue Force. Two alleged small-scale miners also perished in the incident, though official identification of the miners was still pending.
The BFP dispatched rescue personnel to the mining tunnel after reports of the initial accident. Details surrounding the circumstances of the tunnel mishap remained under investigation by local authorities and mining safety officials.
The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns in small-scale mining operations across Mindanao, where informal miners frequently work in hazardous conditions with minimal safety equipment or oversight. The BFP's Special Rescue Force regularly responds to mining emergencies in the region.