MANILA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and six others were missing after a coal mine collapsed in Semirara Island in the central Philippine province of Antique on Friday due to heavy monsoon rain, said the country's Department of Energy. The department said initial investigation shows that the accident took place at 3:30 a.m. at the north edge of the Panian Mine site. There were only nine workers at the site when the accident happened, said the department, confirming they were buried alive by the landslide. Three bodies have been recovered. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for other missing workers, said the department. Zenaida Monsada, the department's officer-in-charge, has ordered operation suspension at the site.