"Brownout" caused coal mine explosion

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) - 7 has initially cited “brownout” as the reason that a small-scale coal mining in Danao City  exploded  last week, sending four miners to a hospital with burns.

But Eduardo Amante, division chief of DOE-7 Energy Resources Development and Utilization Division, said that the initial finding is not yet conclusive.

Amante said that it was also not clear whether the accident was a mine explosion or a mine fire.

Amante said that DOE-7 is looking into why they were not informed immediately about the incident.

“Somebody told us, a reliable source, about the accident but dili gikan nila. We were only informed by them a day after the explosion,” Amante said.

A standard operating procedure by the DOE is for accidents to be reported within 24 hours, with penalty awaiting those who violate the rule.

Mine operation is still suspended at Adelina Hermita Small-Scale Coal Mining in barangay Lawaan, Danao City since August 18, 2012.

Police identified the victims as Arnel Bacang, 28; Rolito Capote, 36; Joseph Manzo, 18; and Cereno Lugas, 56, all from the said barangay.

It was reported earlier that the four were working inside a 50-meter deep coal mine when one of them hit a hard object that caused a spark and triggered the explosion.      - THE FREEMAN