Rescuers climb Philippine volcano to reach plane crash site
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Firemen and soldiers searching for the plane wreckage near Mayon volcano in Camalig town, Albay province, Philippines, on Feb 20.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MANILA - Philippine rescue teams began climbing an active volcano on Tuesday in a “very risky operation” to reach the wreckage of a small plane that crashed at the weekend, officials said.
Four people, including two Australians, were on board the Cessna 340 aircraft when it went missing on Saturday morning
Civil aviation investigators on board a reconnaissance flight on Tuesday confirmed that wreckage spotted on the volcano at the weekend was that of the missing plane.
It is not known if there are any survivors.
Manila-based Energy Development Corporation said previously that the missing plane belonged to the company. The Australians were technical consultants for the renewable energy company.
Rain, clouds and the risk of an eruption have hampered efforts to reach the crash site.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the plane was on the western side of the volcano, about 3,500 to 4,000 feet (1,070m to 1,200m) above sea level.
A high-resolution camera was used to identify the wreckage, said a CAAP spokesman.
Attempts to lower rescue teams to the crash site by helicopter were aborted on Tuesday due to strong winds and cloud cover, officials said.
Instead, search-and-rescue teams, including veteran mountaineers, began making the steep climb on foot.
They were expected to camp overnight and reach the crash site on Wednesday, said Mr Carlos Baldo, mayor of Camalig municipality, which overlaps the crash site.
Mayon is the most active volcano in the country and last erupted in 2018, spewing tonnes of ash, rocks and lava. Access to its slopes is restricted.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Teresito Bacolcol warned there was a risk of a “steam-driven eruption or a rockfall”.
“It’s a very risky operation,” he said. “If they are willing to take the risk, only professionally trained and experienced personnel should be involved.”
Rescuers searching an area near Bicol International Airport in Albay province, south-east of Manila, on Feb 19.
PHOTO: BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION REGION 5/FACEBOOK
Mr George Cordovilla, one of the mountaineers involved in the rescue effort, has climbed Mayon several times in the past and said it would be a difficult ascent.
“It could easily erode and trigger rockfalls, even if there’s no eruption. Some are caused by wind, water or rain,” he said.
Another Cessna plane that went missing on Jan 24 in the northern province of Isabela has still not been found. AFP
