5 missing miners in Antique have 'slim' chance to survive: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) admitted today that the chance to rescue alive the five missing miners in Antique might be "slim."

NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario said that as early as 5:00 a.m. local time today, search and rescue operation in the mining site of Semirara Coal and Mining Corporation in Caluya, Antique resumed.

So far, he said, five people were still missing, five were confirmed dead and only three were rescued.

"There's a slim chance (to rescue alive the five missing), but let's hope for the best," Del Rosario said in a television interview.

He said about 500,000 tons of soil collapsed in the mining site at around 11:54 p.m. on Wednesday.

"I was assured by the company that there were only 13 people ( in the area when the landslide incident occurred). They are certain about it," he said, noting that the other workers were on a break that time.

Semirara Coal and Mining Corp., the country's biggest coal mining company, assured that they will attend to all the victims, Del Rosario added.