Wednesday, October 10, 2007 Rescuers give up search for miner By Ben O. Tesiorna
RESCUERS have stopped the retrieval operation for the remaining miner still trapped inside a tunnel in Diwalwal that collapsed exactly a week ago.
Mt. Diwata barangay captain Franco Tito said the management of the mining company that owns the tunnel has decided to stop retrieval operation last Saturday, a day after two of the three trapped miners were rescued alive, due to the danger of more collapse in the area that may place the lives of the rescuers in danger.
He added that the remaining miner, identified as 33-year-old Fermin Piquero Jr., is believed dead by now due to the stench coming from the tunnel that collapsed.
Miners Julie Salupan, Generito Salupan and Piquero went inside the Australia mining tunnel last October 3 and proceeded to a danger zone that miners still attempt to venture into because of its high-grade gold.
The Salupan brothers were found alive by rescuers Friday afternoon pinned underneath tons of earth with only their heads visible above the rubbles. The two were finally unearthed from the ground seven hours after they were found.
