MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday ordered local officials in Antique province and in the municipality of Caluya to join the search and rescue operations for miners trapped in a coal mine hit by a landslide on Wednesday night.
Roxas also ordered the Philippines National Police in Western Visayas as well as DILG field offices in the region to coordinate with the rescuers so they could provide manpower and other support for the Caluya operations.
“Sinabihan natin ang mga lokal na pamahalaan doon na i-activate ang kani-kanilang disaster and risk management councils upang maibuhos nila ang kanilang pwersa para agad na mailigtas ang mga minero doon,†Roxas said.
He also said that he has coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in efforts to find available helicopters that can be used to airlift rescued miners to the nearest hospitals.
“Mahalaga ang bawat minuto sa sitwasyon na ito, kaya anumang uri ng tulong mula sa pamahalaan, maging sa pribadong sektor para sa kaligtasan ng mga minero, ay talagang kinakailangan,†Roxas said.
A total of 13 workers were in the Panian pit mining site in Barangay Semirara when its hit by a landslide. Reports said that the miners were at 260 below ground level when the open pit was hit by the landslide.
Three of the miners have been rescued alive and four more have been found dead.