Mine collapse buries 9

By Jennifer Rendon (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 18, 2015 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Three bodies have been recovered while six other persons are presumed dead after the north portion of an open-pit coal mine on Semirara Island in Caluya town, Antique collapsed at dawn yesterday.

Heavy monsoon rains reportedly triggered the landslide, burying nine of at least 14 men who were working on a water system of the Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC),a subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc.

Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao explained over radio dzMM that the mining site is below sea level, which explains why the facility has people working on dewatering machines as mining operations continue.

She noted that the province has been experiencing heavy rains in the past days.

Five of the 14 workers who were tasked to remove water from the site survived the incident, according to SMPC chief security officer Rogelio Duro. They were identified as Brendo Tuarez, Nelson Villamor, Renan Entible, Patrick Morgado and Ricardo Cabrera.

Local police also cited Duro’s report, which identified three of the casualties as Alexander Nodo, Ricardo Panes and Arnold Omac, who were employed as mining truck service operators.

Duro reported those buried as Danilo Bayhon, Noel Penolla, Diczon Daupan, Aryan Catulay, Generoso Talaro and Bernie Manriquez. Also buried were five dump trucks, an excavator and a payloader.

In a statement sent to The STAR, the SMPC said: “At around 3:45 a.m. of July 17, 2015, a portion of the northern edge of Panian mine gave way. Three bodies have been recovered and six are still missing. Management has condoled with the families of the victims and is giving them full support. It is also coordinating with national and local authorities to keep them updated on the search and rescue efforts and other necessary measures, including ensuring the adequate supply of coal for power generation since it has stopped operations in the affected area in compliance with an order from the Department of Energy (DOE).

The company is investigating the cause of the accident in coordination with authorities. Advisories will be issued regularly to keep the public informed.”

On Feb. 13, 2013, a landslide also occurred at the SMPC mine site in Caluya town. Five workers were killed and five remain missing.

Rescuers then were able to save three people before efforts were suspended four days later when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a landslide warning.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) units of the DENR earlier mulled the mine’s proximity to the sea as causing the landslides in the open-pit mine.

“We are going on a full investigation (to determine) if there was neglect on the part (of the company), why there was no caution done. They know that it happened before so why did it happen again?” Cadiao said over ABS-CBN News Channel.

She said the missing persons are presumed dead, although rescue operations by the SMPC trained emergency personnel and the local government unit continued.

The Air Force will conduct an aerial survey of the mining site today as authorities are set to conduct an on-site probe.

Mining works at the site were temporarily suspended by the DOE and only rescue operations are allowed. – With Alexis Romero source