Two Miners Killed in Suspected Electrocution Incident at Davao de Oro Stream

MABINI, Philippines — Two small-scale miners died on Thursday after being electrocuted while operating heavy equipment in a stream in Mabini, Davao de Oro, local police and disaster response officials confirmed.

The tragic incident highlights the persistent occupational hazards facing informal and small-scale mining operations across the mineral-rich province.

According to initial reports from the Mabini Municipal Police Station, the victims were working inside a shallow streambed using motorized water pumps and electric mining equipment to process gold-bearing sediment. Preliminary investigations suggest an ungrounded or frayed high-voltage power cable came into direct contact with the water, sending a lethal electric current through the stream where the men were standing.

Witnesses and fellow miners nearby heard cries for help and quickly attempted to shut off the main power generator to reach the victims safely. However, the current incapacitated both workers almost instantly before co-workers could cut the electricity supply.

Bystanders and local responders managed to pull the two unresponsive miners from the water and performed CPR on the riverbank while waiting for emergency services. Municipal disaster risk reduction officers rushed the victims to a nearby health facility, where attending physicians pronounced both men dead on arrival due to severe electrical burns and cardiac arrest.

Local law enforcement officers secured the site immediately following the incident to conduct a forensic sweep and inspect the electrical equipment used at the informal mining operation.

The local government unit and provincial mining regulatory authorities have launched a joint investigation to determine the exact cause of the electrical fault and examine whether safety compliance protocols were bypassed. Officials are also assessing whether the small-scale operation possessed the necessary permits to operate electrical machinery in the waterway.

Provincial safety inspectors reiterated strict warnings to small-scale mining communities regarding the dangers of using makeshift electrical wiring near water sources. Local officials urged operators to adhere to mandatory safety regulations to prevent similar fatal industrial accidents in the region.