Three miners were found dead inside a tunnel in Nayak, Sapid, Mankayan, Benguet, authorities confirmed.

The bodies were discovered on 23 February 2026, prompting an immediate retrieval operation.

According to the Mankayan Police, the remains of two of the victims were transported to Baguio City. They were identified as residents of Barangay Upper Crystal Cave in Bakakeng Central, Baguio City. The third victim was a resident of Palatong, Tabio, Mankayan, Benguet.

Police said the bodies were already in a state of decomposition when they were found by responders inside the tunnel.

Two of the victims were aged 22 and 24. Authorities did not immediately release the age of the third miner.

Based on the police timeline, the three were last seen alive on 20 February 2026. It took three days of search operations before their location was identified and their bodies were extracted from the underground site.

The official investigation determined that the miners died of asphyxia. Medical findings indicated that the suffocation was caused by the inhalation of toxic gas inside the tunnel.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.