5 dead as landslide hits EDC site in Leyte

ORMOC CITY, Philippines  â€“ Five people were confirmed dead and at least six others were still missing after a landslide occurred at a project site of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Kananga town, Leyte yesterday morning.

The victims worked for JA Arradaza Construction, a subcontractor of First Balfour, on a rig at EDC’s Pad 403 at the Upper Mahiao geothermal plant in the mountains of Kananga.

As of press time, only two of the five fatalities had been identified as Joel Milay and Bonifacio Polinio.

In a statement, the EDC said two weeks of rains triggered the landslide.

“The emergency response team and all available personnel as well as the company’s resources and equipment have already been mobilized by Leyte’s chief senior vice president Rico Bersamin,” the EDC said.

Forty-three employees of First Balfour, according to the EDC, were issued a safety work permit in the area.

Of the 43, it said 36 had been accounted for as of press time.

Of the 36, the company said 21 were being treated at the EDC clinic and 11 others who sustained minor injuries at a hospital.

Last month, a landslide also occurred at the coal site of Consunji-owned Semirara Mining Corp. in Antique, which killed at least five miners.

Semirara earlier said it tapped a third-party consultant to avoid similar incidents in the future.

It said it is currently reviewing its mine plan with the assistance of the third-party consultant.

The Energy department has conducted a thorough review and assessment of the Semirara incident but has yet to release its official report.

– With Czerina Valencia