The manhole where cousins Romeo and Brendon Cabanes died. (CDN PHOTO/BJORN TABANERA)
Two male workers died while cleaning a drainage in the Talisay Public Market at past 3 p.m. today.
According to Aida Sabate, staff of the Talisay City Mayor’s Office, 31-year old Romeo Cabanes and his 27-year old cousin, Brendon Cabanes, were removing garbage that clogged the drainage through the manhole.
A witness said that Romeo tried to get a piece of wood at the bottom of the manhole which they used to lift the pale filled with garbage.
Romeo got hold of the wood but as he was about to get out, the poisoning stench made him feel dizzy. He eventually fell back into the bottom of the manhole.
The sight right in front of the Talisay Public Market (CDN PHOTO/BJORN TABANERA)
Brendon tried to rescue his cousin but his attempts failed as he also fell unconscious inside the manhole.
People helped to rescue the two workers but they did not make it alive at the Talisay District Hospital.