More than 100 mountaineers rescued in Bataan’s Mt. Tarak

At least 100 mountaineers in Mariveles, Bataan were rescued since Saturday while hiking Mt. Tarak as Typhoon Karen bring heavy rains and strong winds in Central Luzon.

Bataan Provincial Police Office Acting Director Senior Superintendent Benjamin Silo said in a statement on Sunday that of the 130 workers who trekked Mt. Tarak, a total of 100 have been confirmed safe.

Silo said 78 of the total number of mountaineers were registered.

He said that 48 registered mountaineers were initially rescued from Barangay Alis-Asin and 30 more were being rescued as of Sunday morning.

"As of now 48 na ang na-rescue... the rest na 30 others pababa na sila kasama ang different rescue teams," he said.

He said 12 unregistered hikers have also been rescued and 30 more decided to stay overnight on Mt. Tarak.

"Mayroon din 12 hikers na hindi nagpa-register at umakyat on their own ang na-rescue na. While 30 others na hindi rin nagpa-rehistro ang na locate na. Safe naman daw sila nag overnight sila sa ligtas na area at pababa na rin," Silo said.

Silo said no one was hurt among the hikers. He cited one mountaineer who had difficulty in walking.

He said he expects all mountaineers will be accounted for in the afternoon.

Silo said that 70 percent of the Bataan Public Safety Station and members of the Philippine Army, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office joined the rescue operations for the mountaineers.

"Hopefully by 1 p.m. makumpleto na ang buong operasyon at makababa na lahat from Mt. Tarak," he said.

In Benguet province, authorities reported that 16 trekkers got stranded in Mt. Pulag — the third highest peak in the Philippines.

Officials from the Kabayan Tourism Office, DENR Park Management, and the Kabayan Municipal Police Station are attending to the mountaineers at Camp 3 near Badabac Section.

Bataan and Benguet were placed under cyclone warning signals as the typhoon was approaching the Luzon landmass on Saturday. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News