ITOGON, Benguet, Philippines — Seven miners suspected of dying from gas poisoning were found inside a tunnel portal in Sitio Dontog, Barangay Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet, on September 30.

It was learned that at around 11:00 a.m. on October 1, response teams retrieved all seven individuals from the tunnel, all of whom were dead.

According to the report, six of the deceased were residents of Barangay Bana-ao, Tadian, Mountain Province.

The victims were identified as Bryan Campoas Madrid, 18; Kenjie Ingaan Mangayen, 19; Orviel Kiwingan Valdez, 22; Crisanto Ingaan Gapacan Jr., 19; Hill Limong Padon, 25, and Alvin Lazaro Daniel, 21.

The seventh deceased was identified as Leonardo Bacuteng Pino, 62, a native of Cagayan Valley.

The remains of the six deceased were immediately returned to their respective families, after the immediate response of the relatives from Mt. Province.

The local government of Itogon extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

The Itogon MPS is now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the incident.