DIFFICULT MISSION. Fresh batches of responders started their climb of Mt. Mayon on Tuesday (Feb. 28, 2023) to help carry down the remains of the passengers of a Cessna plane that crashed on Feb. 18. Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo cited the need for additional manpower as exhaustion eventually caught up with the initial team atop the slopes of the volcano. (Photo from Mayor Baldo's Facebook page)
LEGAZPI CITY – Additional responders began to climb Mt. Mayon on Tuesday to help bring down the remains of the four passengers of a Cessna plane that crashed near the volcano's crater on Feb. 18.
At 5 a.m., fresh batches of responders, totaling 62, started their trek, Camalig Mayor and Incident Commander Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. said in a social media post.
Baldo said the incident management team (IMT) directed the deployment of additional manpower as exhaustion eventually caught up with the initial team atop the slopes of Mayon volcano.
"The IMT still eyes to seek support from the air assets/helicopters if the skies clear. Helicopters are not advised to fly and hover above priority areas due to the unfavorable weather, which presently causes limited to zero visibility," he said.
Baldo also advised the team to cautiously carry out the operations to avoid injuries as responders are currently facing difficulties brought on by the situation.
There is much difficulty in rope management "because of the volcano's high-angle slopes," he noted. "The Incident Management Team proposed 20 personnel per body as one of their alternative measures to relay down the bodies for 200 to 300 meters and will be hoisted as the team locates a safe landing zone."
Tim Florece, Camalig spokesperson, said in an interview that the teams are currently toning down their movement due to the risks posed by the volcano’s terrain and the windy weather caused by the northeast monsoon.
"The 62 responders are currently on standby at the forest ranger station (FRS). So far, they are 93 responders in the FRS today because of strong winds, loose soil, steep slopes, and zero visibility," Florece said.
He added that since day one of the operations, almost 700 responders from different government agencies, organizations, and groups have checked in at the command center. (PNA)
