Methane gas kills three La Vega utility workers

La Vega, Dominican Republic.- Inhaled methane gas on Monday killed La Vega water utility workers Jose Ramon Castillo, 74; Arcadio Valdez, 50 and Randy Betances 32, who died of asphyxia while cleaning a sewage pipe.

The three men, employees of Coravega and residents of La Vega (central) province communities , died beneath an intersection in a narrow ditch near the city’s busy Rivera Av.

The tragedy occurred when the workers apparently became trapped while cleaning the sewage system. Their bodies were taken to Luis Morillo King hospital at La Vega.