Rescuers trapped in Cagayan crash site

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – A 42-member rescue team is now trapped at the crash site of an Islander twin-engine plane in the jungles of Cagayan amid the bad weather that has caused flash floods in some lowland areas in the province, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.

The rescuers, composed of policemen, Army men and civilian volunteers responsible for the discovery and retrieval of the remains of the seven people on board the ill-fated plane, were reportedly still in the vicinity of the crash site in Sitio Baying, Barangay San Miguel in Baggao town.

Melchito Castro, OCD director for Cagayan Valley, said two helicopters tasked to fetch the rescuers were having a hard time to land because of the inclement weather.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, said the military helicopters would just wait for good weather before taking off to the crash site, about 15 minutes from the city airport, to fetch the rescuers.

The plane owned by Chemtrad crashed last April 2 while on its way to Maconacon, Isabela, claiming the lives of its pilot, Capt. Tomas Yañez, co-pilot, police major Ranier Ruiz, and their five passengers.