Manila, Philippines:
A wall of a huge coal-mining pit collapsed in the central Philippines, killing at least three of the 13 workers who were buried in the avalanche, officials said on Thursday.
George San Pedro of the Semirara Mining Corp., which runs the coal mine on Semirara Island in Antique province, said three people were rescued and seven are missing after the landslide struck around midnight.
The workers were taking a break from the 24-hour mining operations when the landslide hit, officials said. The pit is among the country's largest mines.
Company officials halted mining operations at the site to ensure the safety of its personnel and allow an investigation with authorities on what set off the landslide, San Pedro said.
Regional police chief Agrimero Cruz Jr. said it has rained in recent days but it was unclear if the weather helped set off the landslide. No major earthquake has also been detected recently in Antique, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) south of Manila.
Office of Civil Defense regional director Rosario Cabrera said police and other authorities were coordinating with Semirara Mining Corp. to help rescue the missing miners.