Tourists warned of ‘unusual’ heat in Pinatubo

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Mt. Pinatubo can be deadly to tourists.

A Hong Kong man reportedly suffered heatstroke at the volcano’s summit the other day, two weeks after a Canadian tourist died of the same cause upon reaching the lake on the crater.

The latest victim was identified as So Ka Ming, 39, a cameraman of Travel Living Channel of Hong Kong.

Unlike the Canadian tourist, Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Ronnie Tiotuico yesterday said So survived after he was taken to a hospital in Angeles City.

The DOT had invited So to do a feature on Mt. Pinatubo as a tourist attraction, he said.

Tourists have described as “unusual” the heat on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo in recent weeks.

Since 2004, Mt. Pinatubo has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Capas, Tarlac municipal government as Barangay Sta. Juliana in the town is the main and safest takeoff point for a climb to the summit.

The local government has authorized a   South Korean firm to operate a facility for tourists wishing to reach the volcano’s summit.

Last January, Roselito Julao, 44, a vacationing balikbayan from England, died mysteriously after he jumped into the crater lake.