‘Body of 16-year-old laborer inside Pinukpuk well retrieved at 5:05 p.m.; Power cut stopped blower’s air supply’ - Police initial investigation finds

PINUKPUK, Kalinga — The body of a 16-year-old laborer who became trapped inside a 17-meter-deep well was retrieved by authorities at around 5:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Taga, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.

Initial police investigation showed that the victim, identified as Alias Pullat, male, unmarried, and a resident of Junction, Pinukpuk, was finishing his work inside the well when a power interruption occurred, causing the blower supplying air into the well to stop.

The sudden loss of the blower's air supply is being considered a possible factor in the victim's death, although the exact cause of death has yet to be medically established.

The victim's companion, who admitted to panicking, initially tried to pull the pulley to bring Pullat out of the well before seeking assistance.

However, the victim failed to make it out and remained trapped inside.

Authorities who were alerted about the incident immediately rushed to the area and worked together to retrieve the 16-year-old from the deep well.

After about four hours of rescue and retrieval efforts, authorities successfully recovered the victim's body.

Pinukpuk Chief of Police PCapt. Tyrone John Balanay told GURU Press Cordillera that the victim was declared dead at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the victim's death.