Semirara landslide kills bulldozer operator in Antique

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A bulldozer operator died after a soil landslide buried his machine at the Narra pit of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. in Barangay Semirara, Caluya, Antique, on Sunday night, March 1.

The Caluya Municipal Police Station said the 48-year-old worker died of asphyxiation, or lack of oxygen, and was declared dead on arrival at the company’s medical facility.

Police Capt. Richard de Vera, deputy chief of the Caluya Municipal Police Station, said the victim was operating a bulldozer at about 6:44 p.m. when a portion of soil from the open-pit mine collapsed, burying the equipment and trapping him inside the cabin.

De Vera said the company’s emergency response team brought the worker to the SMPC hospital, where the attending physician declared him dead on arrival at 8:07 p.m.

De Vera said the SMPC Safety Department alerted the Caluya police substation in Barangay Semirara at about 9:55 p.m.

De Vera said responding officers proceeded to the Narra pit but were told the victim had already been transported to the company hospital.

De Vera said earlier social media reports claiming more than one person was involved were inaccurate.

“As of now, our investigation is continuous. Upon the gathering of information from the first responders, only one individual is involved,” de Vera said.

The victim was a native of Barangay Lower Cabaruyan in Libungan, North Cotabato, but had been living in Molave Phase 4, Barangay Semirara, Caluya.

He is survived by his wife.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp., part of the DMCI group, is the country’s largest coal producer and has said it accounts for about 97% of domestic coal output from its operations on Semirara Island.

The company operates major open-pit coal mines on Semirara Island, including the Narra and Molave pits, and previously operated the Panian and Unong sites.