2 die as tunnel collapses in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — Two workers were buried alive in a tunnel that collapsed in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City yesterday morning.

The remains of Ramy Cadampog, 28, and his nephew Jerwin, 17, were recovered at around 2 p.m. by a search and rescue team who arrived at the scene in Sitio Ylaya.

It took at least five hours for the team to recover the bodies with the help of a backhoe lent by a construction company.

The victims were reportedly digging for sand when the tunnel collapsed, according to Darwin Arcila, chairman of Barangay Talamban.

Police said the victims could have been digging the area for a long time that they were able to create a tunnel.

Arcila said the area near the tunnel had been under watch due to rampant illegal excavation activities.

He said they had seized excavation tools from individuals they caught digging.

Those who were caught were only reprimanded, Arcila said, adding it was the first time for such an incident to happen in the area.