Officials from the Philippines report that rescue teams began climbing an active volcano last Tuesday in an “extremely dangerous operation” to reach the wreckage of a light plane that crashed over the weekend. Four people, including two Australians, were on board the Cessna 340 when it disappeared on Saturday morning after taking off for Manila from Bicol International Airport several kilometers from the Mayon volcano.
Civil aviation investigators who went on a reconnaissance flight last Tuesday confirmed that the wreckage spotted on the volcano over the weekend was that of the missing plane. It is not known if there are any survivors. Notebook Energy Development, based in the capital of the Philippines, Manila, reported that the missing plane belonged to the company. According to them the Australians were technical advisers to the renewable energy company.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the plane was on the west side of the volcano, about 1,070 meters to 1,200 meters above sea level. Also, according to CAAP spokesman Eric Apollonio, rescue teams used equipment including a high-resolution camera to identify the wreckage of the plane. In addition, it was reported that rain, clouds and the risk of the volcano erupting hindered efforts to reach the crash site.
According to officials in the Philippines, attempts to bring rescue teams to the crash site by helicopter were canceled due to strong winds and heavy clouds. Instead, search and rescue teams, including seasoned mountaineers, began the steep climb on foot. They were expected to camp overnight on Tuesday and arrive at the crash site on Wednesday, said Carlos Baldo, mayor of Camalig, the city closest to the crash site.
Mayon is the most active volcano in the country and last erupted in 2018, spewing tons of ash, rocks and lava. Access to its slopes is limited. The director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Teresito Bacalcol, warned that there was a risk of an “eruption caused by an eruption of gases or falling rocks”. “This is a very dangerous operation,” he told AFP. “If the rescue teams are willing to take the risk, only a professionally trained and experienced team should be involved.”
George Cordavilla, one of the mountain climbers involved in the rescue effort, has previously climbed Mayon several times and told the French news agency that it was a difficult climb. “The slope can easily crumble and cause rockfalls even if there is no eruption. Some landslides are caused by wind, flood or rain,” he said.