Rescue Work Resumes in Philippine Landslide

Image: In this photo released by the Philippine Army, residents search for victims following a landslide that occurred at the small-scale mining community of Pantukan, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Thursday Jan. 5, 2012. The landslide tore through a small-scale gold mining site in the southern Philippines on Thursday, months after government officials warned miners that the mountain above them was guaranteed to crumble. (AP Photo/Philippine Army, Senior Police Officer 1 Roger Montejo)

Philippine officials say they have resumed the search for victims of a landslide that killed more than 20 people at a remote gold mining area, but that they are uncertain how many more remained buried in the rubble.

The landslide took place early Thursday in Pantukan township of Compostela Valley province. Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos says early reports of about 100 people still buried were inaccurate.

Ramos says those estimates were far too high, but that the exact number is uncertain. He says local authorities do not record the number of mostly migrant miners who work there.

Rescue work was suspended Thursday because heavy rains threatened to unleash fresh slides in the area. Geologists warned months earlier that the area is highly susceptible to sudden landslides.

- AP/ABC News