Rescuers climb risky slopes of Mayon Volcano in attempt to find plane crash survivors

Rescuers in Bicol continue to climb the slopes of Mayon Volcano in what is described as “a very risky operation” after a small Cessna plane crashed near the crater, carrying two Filipino plane crew and two Australian consultants of a geothermal firm.

Mayon Volcano is classified as an active volcano, which last erupted in 2018. Its 4-kilometer radius has been declared as a permanent danger zone for landslides and rockslides. Government officials hoped to find survivors by Tuesday, but rescue efforts through helicopters were hampered by strong winds and bad weather.

Instead, search and rescue teams including expert mountaineers were deployed to make the steep and risky climb, camping overnight and are expected to reach the crash site today.

The plane departed for Manila from Bicol International Airport at 6:43am on Feb. 18, several kilometers from the volcano, and was expected to arrive at 7:53am. The plane was first reported as missing on Saturday, before the wreckage was found Sunday.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said that it has “positively identified the aircraft’s wreckage,” located at the volcano’s west side slope, using a high resolution camera.

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