The area where a landslide buried two buses in Maco, Davao de Oro is outside the operations area of Apex Mining Co. Inc.

This is according to the company in a statement released a day after the incident evening on February 6, 2024 that took the lives of at least seven people.

As of 4:30 p.m. on February 7, at least 31 were rescued while 48 others remained missing. Those rescued all sustained injuries.

The buses were transporting workers of the mining firm when hit by the landslide in Barangay Masara.

“The place where the slide happened is outside the mine operations area of Apex Mining,. It is used as a vehicle terminal for buses and jeepneys servicing the employees, its service providers and members of the community,” the statement reads.

“As of 11:30 am, 07 Feb, 62 Apex Mining employees have been accounted for and considered safe. Meanwhile, Apex Mining continues to trace the whereabouts of 45 other employees,” the mining company added.

Apex Mining said it is ‘on limited operations’ as the company focuses on supporting the the rescue efforts led by the provincial government.

“Following the landslide that happened in Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro at 7:30PM on 06 Feb, Apex Mining is on limited operations because it is focusing on fully supporting the rescue operations led by the provincial government of Davao de Oro,” Apex Mining said.