27 Pinatubo trekkers rescued

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – At least 27 mountaineers trapped on Mt. Pinatubo were rescued in Barangay Sapang Uwak in Porac, Pampanga yesterday.

In a report here, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the mountaineers were rescued by joint disaster personnel and policemen around 1:30 p.m. 

The mountaineers were stranded on Mt. Pinatubo Delta 5 in Barangay Uwak since last Saturday.

They asked for rescue assistance from their relatives through their Facebook accounts.

“The relatives then contacted the National Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Coordinating Council, which in turn alerted us about the case,” Porac Councilor Mark Valencia told The STAR.

Valencia said the trekkers sought shelter somewhere near the crater of Mt. Pinatubo after a landslide covered the route they used for climbing along the Pasig-Potrero River.

 “Except for three, including a man who suffered a sprained foot, our report says all the trekkers were fine,” Valencia said.

The trekkers belong to the Ulupong Mountaineering Club based in Manila.

Porac Mayor Carlito de la Cruz said the trekkers did not ask permission from any local government around the volcano.

Earlier this year, mountaineers from the University of the Philippines, who trekked on Mt. Pinatubo without permission from the local government, were stranded and had to be rescued. – Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes, Alexis Romero