Mine worker killed in South Cotabato tunnel mishap

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--A mine worker was killed after a portion of a tunnel where he was working in T’boli town in South Cotabato collapsed on Monday.

Kim Tangcala, T’boli municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, identified the victim as George Mana, 31, a native of Baguio City and temporarily residing in the area.

Citing a report relayed to their office, Tangcala said the incident occurred at around 9:45 a.m. Monday in one of the tunnels at the mining tenement of the TMC Tribal Mining Corp. in Barangay Kematu.

He said boulders inside the mine tunnel collapsed, hitting Mana, who was then working at the site.

Responding rescuers and other mine workers later retrieved Mana but was declared dead upon arrival at a local hospital, he said in an interview over Brigada News FM.  

Tangcala said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 12 has already launched an investigation into the incident. He added that the local government is waiting for MGB's recommendation on TMC’s operations.

TMC is currently conducting explorations in Barangay Kematu and the neighboring areas for its planned large-scale gold and silver mining project.

The company is a subsidiary of Rizal Resources Corp., which lists its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada. (PNA)