Worker dies in Semirara mining site

ILOILO CITY — The local police of Caluya town in Antique confirmed that a worker of the Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) died in the evening of May 20 (Sunday).

Landslide however was not the cause of death, according to Chief Inspector Francisco Paguia, Caluya Police chief, but the 23-year-old Lpath Felipe, of Barangay Banago in Caluya, died of cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to hypoxic encephalopathy.

The physician also noted that the victim had traumatic head injury secondary to fall. However, Paguia said no person apparently saw what happened to Felipe, who worked as a safety aide at SMPC's Molave Mine Pit.

He could have slipped and fell, Paguia said. According to reports, the victim conducted a roving inspection early evening of Sunday. At 6:30 p.m., one of SMPC's foreman, Eric Olivo, even saw him. But at 8 p.m., Olivo sent an alarm at the base after he could not locate the victim.

Workers began looking for Felipe until he was found 8:15 p.m. near an excavator at Seam 32 loading area. Paguia said Felipe was brought to the SMPC Hospital but did not pull through. "So far, we don't find any sign of foul play. Our initial investigation showed that it was pure accident," Paguia said.

He also denied reports circulating over social media that there were two other workers who were wounded. "Our investigators went there and no report was made about the alleged injured workers. There was also no sign of any landslide."

SMPC, the country’s biggest coal producer, is engaged in exploration, development and mining of coal resources in Semirara Island.