16-year-old laborer trapped, feared dead inside 17-meter well in Pinukpuk

PINUKPUK, Kalinga — A 16-year-old laborer is feared dead after he failed to emerge from a deep well where he and a companion were working in Taga, Pinukpuk, Kalinga, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Initial information from the Pinukpuk police showed that the incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m., but was reported to authorities only at around 1:30 p.m. The victim was identified as alias Pullat, male, unmarried and a resident of Barangay Junction, Pinukpuk.

According to the victim's companion, the 16-year-old was inside the approximately 17-meter-deep well finishing their work when a power interruption occurred, causing the blower supplying air into the well to suddenly stop.

The companion said he panicked and attempted to pull the pulley to get the victim out before seeking assistance from others.

However, the 16-year-old failed to make it out and remained inside the well for about an hour.

The incident is reminiscent of a similar tragedy in Barangay Balawag, Tabuk City, in March 2024, when two laborers died inside a nine-meter-deep well after reportedly becoming dizzy while working inside it. Police investigators said the two may have been poisoned by toxic gas, although the investigation was still ongoing at the time.

The earlier incident involved a worker who became dizzy while inside the well, prompting a co-worker to go down and attempt a rescue. The second worker also became dizzy and collapsed, and both were later retrieved and brought to the hospital, where they were declared dead.

Retrieval operations for the 16-year-old in Pinukpuk are ongoing as of press time.

This is a developing story.