Maguindanao treasure hunter dies of suffocation inside cave

COTABATO CITY — A 31-year-old treasure hunter who was trying to dig for valuables inside a cave in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao died of suffocation on Tuesday, while two of his companions managed to escape.

Maguindanao Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Nasrullah Imam identified the victim as Anwar Zacaria, a resident of Barangay Dimapatoy.

Quoting the two survivors, Imam said that the three were in a cave in Sitio Nabilan, Barangay Dinaig to hunt for  supposed hidden "gold bars." 

“Eventually something irregular happened inside the cave that fumed toxic material”, Imam said quoting the survivors.

Initial information indicate that the incident took place on July 27, Tuesday, Imam said, adding that their office was earlier informed that a miner was trapped inside a cave.

PDRMMO responders -- with the help of Bureau of Fire Rescuers and personnel from Datu Odin Sinsuat Police, and the Makabagong Rescuers Team -- launched a  rescue and retrieval operation.

At 4pm on Wednesday, July 28, the body of the victim was retrieved, according to Imam.

“It was a difficult retrieval operation as the cave opening is so small, and that the rescue and retrieval team needed to trek through difficult terrains leading to the cave,” he said. —LBG, GMA News