Aquino orders probe on Antique mining accident

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III today ordered the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to determine the cause of Wednesday's mining accident in of Antique which has caused at least four dead and six missing.

The west wall of the open mine pit operated by Semirara Mining Corporation collapsed around 11:55 p.m. local time Wednesday after a landslide hit Antique. Latest report showed that out of the thirteen people trapped in the mine, four people were confirmed dead, three were rescued and six remain missing.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said today the president also instructed the NDRRMC to update him on the results of the investigations. Aquino also instructed he Department of Social Welfare and Development to extend immediate assistance to the victims and their families.

The three workers rescued are Marjun Catoto, Adrian Celmar and Leonardo Sojor, according to Rosario Cabrera, director for Western Visayas at the Office of Civil Defense. She added the bodies of four workers  Leovigildo Porras, Abnir Lim, Efren Esquiza - have been already retrieved.

Cabrera said they're searching for the six persons namely Georgie Bragat, Jan Riel Planca, Randy Tamparong, Richard Padernilla, Anthony Siblet, and Junjie Gomez.

Cabrera said they're still determining the cause of the landslide.