A 50-year-old woman was killed after a massive boulder fell on her while she was allegedly searching for buried gold in Barangay Jandalamanon, Ayungon, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday, July 22.
Barangay officials identified the victim only by the alias “Mabel.”
According to a barangay official, the woman was digging at the base of a large rock after a relative told her there was possibly hidden gold beneath it.
Authorities said recent rainfall had softened the ground in the area, which is believed to have caused the boulder to collapse.
The falling rock struck the woman, killing her instantly.
A video shared by Barangay Captain Ramel Mandate showed rescuers struggling to remove the massive boulder that pinned the victim beneath it.
Rescue personnel worked to clear the heavy rock before they were able to recover the woman’s body.
Barangay officials said the incident occurred after days of rain that left the soil unstable around the large rock.
No other injuries were reported in the incident.
The victim had been digging near the base of the boulder when it suddenly gave way, according to the initial account provided by barangay authorities.
The incident highlights the danger of excavating in areas where the ground has been weakened by continuous rainfall.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding the alleged search for buried gold beyond the account provided by barangay officials.
The video of the rescue operation circulated on social media, showing the challenges responders faced in removing the heavy rock before the victim could be recovered.
The woman was declared dead after being struck by the collapsing boulder, according to the information released by local officials.
