At least 29 people have died following a landslide near a limestone quarry in the Philippines, with dozens more feared trapped under the rubble.
The landslide, one of several incidents from 15-20 September in the country, was triggered by heavy rains early yesterday, burying around two dozen houses and the people inside.
Authorities put the death toll at 29, with rescuers still digging for possibly more than 50 people believed to have been buried alive.
"It could also happen in other quarries all over the country," Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said during a media briefing in Naga City.
All quarrying operations in more than seven regions have been suspended following the landslide.
Mr Cimatu announced the suspension on quarrying operations pending safety assessments as search and rescue operations continued at the site on the central island of Cebu.
"I ordered the review and assessment of all quarry operations all over the country to determine the safety of the quarry operations."
He ordered the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the state regulator for mining and quarrying industries, to conduct the safety assessments specifically in seven regions where large quarry operations are located.
MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano told Reuters he expects the impact of the suspension on the industry's output to be "minimal", without giving any estimate.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte repeated his call to shut all mines in the country following deadly landslides triggered by heavy rains caused by Typhoon Mangkhut, which struck the country on 15 September.
Mr Cimatu also ordered a halt to all small-scale mining in the mountainous, gold-rich Cordillera region, where most of the landslides occurred, and ordered a review of more than 100 proposals for small-scale mining sites across the country.
