A 37-YEAR-OLD tourist from Metro Manila survived a harrowing 30-meter fall near the summit of Mt. Apo after being swept off a boulder by strong winds on May 30, triggering a midnight cross-boundary rescue operation by local disaster units.
The victim, identified to TIMES by Digos City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management, as alias Glai, was declared in stable condition after being rushed to the Digos Doctors Hospital at around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 31.
According to an operational update from the Digos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the incident occurred on Saturday morning at the landmark “White Sand” area of the country’s highest peak.
Personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) station in Kapatagan first alerted emergency responders about the accident at around 9 a.m.
Initial reports stated that alias Glai was standing on top of a rock formation when a sudden, powerful gust of wind caused her to lose her footing and stumble into an estimated 30-meter drop.
Because the victim was a registered tourist of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Digos City Mayor Josef F. Cagas, and the CDRRMO coordinated with the Municipal DRRMO of Sta. Cruz to expedite the extraction.
To ensure the fastest possible medical evacuation, Sta. Cruz mountain guides intentionally diverted the rescue party through the Digos trail, which offered an easier and more direct path down the mountain.
A joint team consisting of the Digos CDRRMO and the Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Force climbed the trail to intercept the mountain guides and retrieve the injured climber.
Mountaineering authorities have repeatedly cautioned trekkers regarding unpredictable weather shifts and high-velocity winds near the Mt. Apo summit, especially during sudden weather transitions.
