Search operations continue for missing tourist in Mt. Province cave

MANILA, Philippines—Search operations continued on Monday for a female local tourist, who remained missing after she and other Japanese tourists were trapped inside the Sumaguing Cave in Mountain Province Sunday afternoon, police said.

Police Officer 2 Ronnie Balingao of Mountain Province Police Office said tourist Irene Manawis remained inside the cave after their group, roughly composed of 31 people, failed to leave the cave due to strong current of waters inside the cave in Sagada around 12 noon Sunday.

Thirteen of the tourists were Japanese, Balingao said.

“Paalis na sana sila nang biglang lumakas yung daloy ng tubig sa loob,” he said, but noted that no part of the cave had collapsed.

Authorities are still trying to locate Manawis after members of the group got separated from each other after the incident.

Balingao said four people were earlier rushed to St. Theodore Hospital in Sagada.