October 4, 2019 | 12:09 am
THE Department of Energy (DoE) is
investigating a mudslide at the facility in Antique of listed Semirara Mining
and Power Corp. (SMPC), the agency said on Thursday, as rescue operations
continue for a missing employee after the incident.
“We are thoroughly investigating the
matter to determine the cause of the incident, and ensure that all safety
standards and protocols were strictly upheld,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi
said in a statement.
Mr. Cusi said SMPC had assured its
“full cooperation” with the investigation. The DoE said the investigation has
launched on Wednesday and that it would continue to issue updates.
The DoE said its Energy Resource
Development Bureau (ERDB) deployed a team of geologists and mining engineers to
conduct an on-site assessment.
It said based on the aerial and
ground inspections of the technical team, the presence of mudflow was confirmed
at the location of the incident.
According to the mining firm’s
initial report to the department, regular mining operations were ongoing with
heavy machinery, PS27, working on the drainage canal at the Molave pit of the
site’s south wall, when an irregularity was detected at 1 a.m.
The mudslide occurred five minutes
later, at 1:05 a.m., hitting the PS27 equipment and its operator, it added.
Sought for comment, SMPC confirmed
the occurrence of a mudslide at around 1:05 a.m. on Oct. 2 in Southwest Tungao,
Semirara Island.
“The operator of a power shovel that
was swept by the mudslide remains missing. We have notified his next of kin and
have assured them of our full support to them during this difficult time,” the
company said in a statement.
SMPC said it was fully cooperating
with the DoE in the investigation of the incident.
On Thursday, shares in the company
closed higher by 1.36% at P22.35 each. — Victor V. Saulon
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