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Firefighter dies in Surigao tunnel rescue, retrieval operation

Published Aug 18, 2026 12:58 pm  |  Updated Aug 18, 2026 01:27 pm
A firefighter was killed on Monday, Aug. 17, after he was trapped inside a tunnel during the confined space rescue and retrieval operation in Barangay Capalayan, Surigao del Norte, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) stated.
BFP officer-in-charge (OIC) Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu said that Fire Office 3 (FO3) Rumar Mahinay perished in the incident as another rescuer pulled him out of the underground passage.
Another BFP personnel suffered injuries during the rescue operation.
"Sa pagpasok ni FO3 Mahinay, naging mahirap ang komunikasyon dahil sa kawalan ng signal ng radyo sa loob (tunnel). Pumasok ang isa pang rescuer sa tunnel at inilabas si FO3 Mahinay (Upon the entry of FO3 Mahinay, communication was extremely difficult with no radio signal),’’ Kwan Tiu explained.
After being retrieved from the tunnel, a BFP personnel immediately rushed Mahinay to the nearest hospital where the physicians pronounced him dead on arrival (DOA).
The Surigao City Central Fire Station noted that the trapped Mahinay was in dire need of special rescue techniques due to the extremely dangerous condition inside the tunnel.

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BFP Surigao del Norte
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