DOE halts Semirara mining operations due to incident

Semirara Mining site (Photo: radwin.com)

MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) has stopped Semirara Mining and Power Corporation’s operations in Semirara, Antique, due to the incident that occured early Friday morning.

“DOE has ordered the immediate suspension of the operations of Coal Operating Contract No.(COC) 5 Semirara, Antique effective immediately,” the DOE said in a statement Friday.

It noted the incident, which resulted in the death of 5 men, had occurred at 3:50 a.m.

DOE Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Secretary Zenaida Monsada has sent a letter to Semirara Mining and Power Corp. for the suspension, adding an Investigation Committee will be formed to investigate the incident.

Monsada further stressed she ordered Semirara to focus on rescue operations.

The DOE assured it will monitor the developments of the incident.

Semirara, on the other hand, said a portion of the Northern edge of Panian mine was opened, where five bodies have been recovered, while undetermined number of miners are still missing.

It added that families of the victims has been condoled by the management, giving them full support.

Semirara has coordinated with the national and local authorities for updates on the search and rescue operations.

However, the company has not identified the cause of the incident yet, but stressed an investigation with the local authorities is ongoing.

Semirara Mining and Power Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc.