Sagada caves closed to allow search for missing tour guide

TOURISM is a major industry in the Mt. Province town of Sagada. RICHARD BALONGLONG/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

BAGUIO CITY – The popular Sagada Caves were closed on Monday to allow rescue teams to search for a missing tourist guide who was swept by tunnel waters on Sunday.

Roderick Malecdan was among 7 guides who explored Victoria Cave at Sitio Maduto in Angkeling village in Sagada town, Mountain Province when Malecdan and two others were pulled by a discharge of water further into the tunnel at 6:45 p.m.

Four of the guides managed to exit fromthe cave unscathed. The two others were rescued by volunteers and the police, but rescue teams could not locate Malecdan.

Sagada Mayor James Pooten suspended all caving activities to allow for the search to proceed unhampered.

The elevation of water inside the cave had been high, making the search difficult, said Robert Pangod, Sagada tourism officer. JE/rga