13 mountaineers recued in Mt. Apo

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – A local emergency response team rescued Monday afternoon 13 mountaineers stranded due to heavy downpours at the foot of Mt. Apo.

Joey Recemilla, Kidapawan City’s tourism officer, said the mountaineers sought the help of the city’s rescue group when they realized they could no longer cross the wide Marbol River straddling through a trail they were to trek when it overflowed due to heavy downpours. 

Recemilla said the stranded mountain climbers were composed of mountaineers from the cities of Davao and Surigao, and from Metro Manila.

Rescuers helped them cross the river using line harness as they waded through the rampaging waters.

Recemilla said rescuers, assisted by barangay officials, guided the mountaineers to waiting vehicles that transported them to Kidapawan City where they were given food and dry clothes.

The city government opened the trails to Mt. Apo from Kidapawan City last September 30 for this year’s last quarter trek season, but heavy rains had badly affected the event.

Psalmer Bernalte, chief information officer of the Kidapawan City government, said the rescued mountaineers will be transported back to Davao City, from where they will either take flights or ride buses on their way home.

“All of them have been accounted for and none of them got hurt,” Bernalte said.

Recemilla said they were expecting no fewer than 1,500 mountaineers to climb Mr. Apo during the “Octo Trek,” which they launched last week.

Mt. Apo, the country’s highest at 9,692 feet above sea level, abounds with scenic tropical rainforests teeming with wildlife, including the rare Philippine Eagles. - John Unson