DOE probes mudslide in Antique coal plant

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched an investigation into a mudslide at Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s coal facility in Antique, where an employee was reported missing. 

The mudslide occurred in Southwest Tungao on Semirara Island at around 1:05 a.m. on Wednesday.

The missing employee, the operator of a power shovel, was swept away by the mudslide. 

“We have notified his family members and assured them of our full support during this difficult time,”  Semirara said.

The Energy Resource Development Bureau of the DOE deployed a team of geologists and mining engineers to conduct an on-site assessment. 

“We are fully cooperating with the DOE in its investigation,” Semirara said.

In 2013, several workers died when a landslide hit Semirara’s Panian pit.

Another incident in 2015 left nine miners dead. The DOE suspended the operations of Semirara for more than two months while an investigation was ongoing.

Semirara is country’s largest coal miner. It has two mine pits in Antique.