MDRRMO: Air Force verifying whether missing Cessna spotted near Mayon crater

Camalig, Albay's Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said on Sunday afternoon that the Philippine Air Force was verifying whether a location near the Mayon Volcano crater was the crash site of a Cessna plane that went missing on Saturday.

Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB, Camalig MDRRMO Public Information Officer Tim Lawrence Florence said the weather at the location in Barangay Quirangay was improving, and the PAF could hopefully continue with their assessment of the site.

Meanwhile, Camalig Mayor Carlos Baldo had directed that foot responders be held back as the possible crash site was close to the Mayon Volcano crater.

"If I am not mistaken ay mga less than two kilometers doon sa crater ng bulkan," said Florence. "Considering na Alert Level 2 ang bulkan, very active at any time ay puwedeng magkaroon ng eruption."

(It's less than two kilometers from the volcano's crater if I'm not mistaken. Considering the volcano is under an Alert Level 2, it's very active and there could be an eruption anytime.)

"Bawal mag-venture doon sa exact na crash site dahil sa abnormal na aktibidad ng Bulkang Mayon," the MDRRMO spokesperson emphasized.

(Venturing to the exact crash site is prohibited because Mayon Volcano is unusually active.)

With the foot search-and-rescue operations halted, it is up to the PAF's Region 5 tactical operations group to conduct an aerial survey on the possible crash site.

River channel

In a separate Super Radyo dzBB interview, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office head Dr. Cedric Daep said that the location near the Mayon crater where the Cessna was supposedly spotted was difficult to access.

LIVE sa DZBB: Dr. Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office head kaugnay ng nawawalang Cessna plane.

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— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 19, 2023

They were thus discussing whether there was anyone near the location.

"Yung lugar ay river channel na kailangan hanapin ang tao, para makuha, na baka sakaling mayroon pang buhay," said Daep.

(The location is a river channel that you need to search in case there are any survivors.)

"May nakita talaga na sightings at picture na may Cessna plane. Pero ang mag-confirm ay CAAP dahil sila ang nakakakilala sa Cessna plane na iyon," he added.

(There were sightings and pictures of a Cessna plan. But only the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines can confirm this as they are the only ones who can identify that plane.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News