8 hikers stranded on Negros Oriental mountain trail

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines—Eight hikers were stranded since Thursday on Mt. Talinis in Valencia town, Negros Oriental, a local official said.

Angelo Tiongson, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council action officer, said the hikers left for Mt. Talinis on Wednesday and were scheduled to arrive back in town on May 26 but they failed to do so.

However, Carl Consing, one of the stranded hikers, sent a message to his brother Yuri, informing him that they could not proceed with their return trek because they could not cross Buayahan River, whose waters were swelled by heavy rains.

The other stranded hikers were not identified although one of the hikers is the son of Provincial Assistant Prosecutor Eugene Salon.

The Negros Oriental Search and Rescue (Nosar) headed by Boyet Somoza were preparing to rescue the hikers.