ITOGON, Benguet – Emergency responders are in the thick of a search and retrieval operation for two miners who are believed to have been buried in a landslide that occurred around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, August 16 in Barangay Loacan here.
Staff Sergeant Bryan Dintan, of Itogon Municipal Police Station, reported the two miners were doing gold paneling activity at the Antamok River in Barangay Loacan around 10:30 a.m. when the landslide occurred.
Authorities identified the suspected victims as Nestor Talangcag, 54, married; and Maureen Talangcag, 57, married. Both miners are residing at Beda, Loacan, Itogon, Benguet. Relationship of the two missing miners is not yet ascertained.
The report said personnel from the municipal police, Itogon Bureau of Fire Protection, barangay officials, and civilian volunteers are still in the area trying to find the missing miners.
The province of Benguet has experienced weeks of continuous heavy rains that could have saturated the soil.