Philippines: Foreign Hikers Rescued After Extended Search

Philippines: Foreign Hikers Rescued After Extended Search

Rescue teams in the Philippines successfully located all six foreign nationals who had gone missing while hiking in a mountainous region without a guide.

On Saturday, four foreign hikers who had been unaccounted for in central Philippines were rescued, following the discovery of two of their companions the previous day.

The group, which included individuals from Germany, Britain, Canada, and Russia, was hiking to Mount Talinis in Valencia when they became separated, according to local officials.

Two of the hikers were located on Friday in an inaccessible area near the volcano.

The remaining four men were rescued on Saturday morning at 9:44 AM (0144 UTC) in the Amlan municipality of Negros Oriental province.

Authorities reported that they were "found safe" near a hydro power plant and were being transported, as stated by the state-run Philippine News Agency.

Challenging Weather and Terrain
Investigator Leo Gil Villafranca noted that Philippine Army personnel discovered the hikers in a mountainous area characterized by dense vegetation.

"They informed us that they survived by consuming edible plants found in the forest," he said, adding that the group became disoriented due to fog.

Earlier, police indicated that adverse weather conditions likely contributed to the group's disorientation during what they described as a "challenging" hike in the mountainous terrain.

Reports indicated that the men undertook the hike without a guide.

The prolonged rescue operation faced difficulties due to heavy rainfall.

Volunteers also utilized drones to perform an aerial search of the area.

Mount Talinis is the second highest peak on Negros Island.
Source@Dwnews