5 dead in Mt. Mayon climb entered through Malilipot town in Albay

Mayon Volcano AFP PHOTO

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—The five persons  who died in Tuesday’s explosion of ash and steam on Mayon Volcano were a local mountaineering guide and four foreigners who were part of two groups totaling 27 persons who went on a climb of the mountain before the phreatic explosion, a top provincial official said.

Governor Joey Salceda, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said in an interview that of the 27 climbers,  20 went up the mountain from the town of Malilipot while the seven others climbed from Sto. Domingo town.

The five persons who died were from the group that entered through the Malilipot side of Mayon volcano, he added. The authorities were still trying to determine the number of injured from this group.

From among the group that entered the Sto. Domingo side, two persons were able to come down while three others were reported injured, said Salceda.

There are three entry points to Mayon Volcano, the other one being in  the town of Bacacay, he said.