Falling rocks kill 1, hurt 3 in Zambales island

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—A New Year’s Day hike turned tragic when a man was killed and three others were hurt by falling rocks along a trail in a popular resort island here.

Ronie Chave, 23, was on a group hike with about a dozen friends when he was buried by a rockslide around 10 a.m. on Thursday, on Capones Island in Barangay Pundaquit here.

His companions–Rodel Alison, 20; Judy Ann Vergara, 18; and Michael Bumanlag, 29–were seriously injured and taken to James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital (JLGMH) in Olongapo City.

Insp. Jonathan Bardaje, acting police chief of San Antonio, said the cliff facing the sea gave way, dropping huge boulders on the hikers.

He said rescuers first rushed the injured victims to nearby San Marcelino District Hospital but they were later transferred to the JLGMH.

Bumanlag, a resident of Barangay San Miguel here, lost his right leg to surgical amputation because of the severity of the injury, Berdaje said.

Alison and Vergara, both residents of Sta. Cruz, Manila, suffered head and body injuries, according to JLGMH hospital personnel.

Berdaje said the cliffside may have collapsed due to rains and a tremor that shook the area on Dec. 31. Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon