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TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental — A backhoe operator died after he was buried under a massive amount of soil while conducting quarrying activities at Antillion Quarry in Zone 8, Villa Rosario, Barangay Casinglot, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, on Thursday afternoon, August 27, 2026.The victim was identified as Michael Alifonso, reportedly around 30 years old and a native of Quezon, Bukidnon.
Initial information indicated that Alifonso was operating a backhoe at the quarry site when the surrounding soil suddenly collapsed and buried both the operator and the machine at around 1:40 p.m.
The incident occurred in the Malaiba area of Barangay Casinglot, near a known drinking establishment.
Responders from the Tagoloan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the Tagoloan Rescue Team, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Special Rescue Force immediately rushed to the area after receiving reports of the collapse.
Rescuers faced significant difficulty reaching Alifonso because of the volume and weight of the soil that had fallen over the backhoe and the operator. The unstable condition of the area also made the retrieval operation challenging and required responders to work carefully to prevent further soil movement.
A prolonged retrieval operation was subsequently launched, with rescuers using available equipment to remove the soil and reach the trapped operator.
After several hours of intensive rescue efforts, responders successfully recovered Alifonso at approximately 6:30 p.m.
He was immediately brought to St. Paul Hospital, where he was later declared dead.
Emotions ran high at the hospital as the victim’s wife arrived and learned that her husband had been brought in without signs of life.
Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the exact circumstances that caused the soil collapse, including whether ground instability, quarrying activity, or other factors contributed to the incident.
Police are now conducting an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal workplace incident and determine whether any safety protocols or other factors may have played a role.
The incident highlights the serious risks faced by workers engaged in quarrying and other operations involving unstable soil and steep excavated areas, where sudden ground movement can result in life-threatening accidents with little warning.
Authorities are expected to provide additional information as the investigation progresses.