SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union: Sandy soil, which eroded easily when dug deeply caused the death of a deep well digger near the coastal area of Barangay Dalumpinas Oeste, here, Friday afternoon after rescue operations failed to save him on time.
Barangay Capt. Glorioso Gonzales identified the victim as Samuel “Boy” Aquino, a 37-year-old resident of Barangay Bacsayan, San Juan, La Union. He was hired to dig a deep well by certain Tomas and Juliet Nanali, both residents of Bacsayan, San Juan, who are renting the lot owned by Rhoda Laoeng of San Gabriel, La Union, where the well was being dug.

Gonzales narrated that Aquino was allegedly talked into digging the well through the house and lot caretaker of the Nanalis, identified as Lilia Soriano on Wednesday.

Aquino was digging up to 12-feet deep when the soil suddenly collapsed, according to investigations. It was until 6 p.m. when Aquino’s body was finally dug-up by volunteers.

“According to Juliet, [Aquino] was about to climb up to have his break time snack at 3 p.m. when the soil gave-in,” Gonzales said.

It was also learned that Aquino’s wife has just recently went to Dubai, Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic helper but has been told of the incident Friday. They have two children.

Gonzales added that neither the renters nor the caretaker asked permission to dig a well from the barangay. “We were surprised to know that they were digging well and were even shocked when someone was buried alive near the barangay hall.”

Neighbors who tried to rescue Aquino said that he was not able to call help and was already buried when they arrived at the scene. As they waited for more rescuers from the City Disaster Coordinating Council, they were allegedly pouring water at the side of the pit to prevent the soil from eroding further.
The well pit was located at about 200 meters from the sea, Gonzales said, and its vulnerability to collapse is great.

William Jun Garcia