Tarlac trek death toll climbs to 6

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – The number of fatalities in the Tarlac trek tragedy has climbed to six after search and rescue teams found yesterday the body of one of six missing mountaineers from the University of the Philippines.

Yasmin Solis, 23, of Lobo, Batangas, was found at around 9:30 a.m. in the lower portion of the Pangasan Creek in San Jose town.

She was identified by her parents, who rushed to the area in Barangay Iba, where the bodies of her five companions were found on Sunday.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) identified the five as Doreen Adriano, Mark Reyvin Villanueva, Rocky Sumalinog, Bernadette Ramirez  and Jo Marie San Diego.

Nine other mountaineers suffered minor injuries and were discharged shortly after receiving treatment at a clinic in San Jose.

The victims were among 54 hikers participating in an outreach program for Aetas in Sitio Baag, where they arrived on Saturday morning.

They were crossing the creek at about 3 p.m. when they were swept away by the currents.

The OCD and the Tarlac provincial disaster risk reduction and management council were assisted by members of the UP Mountaineers in the search and rescue operations.

Officials of the local tourism office said the mountaineers did not coordinate the trek with them. They said the victims must have taken another route not usually taken by tourists climbing the local hills for adventure.– With Ric Sapnu