LEGAZPI CITY: Ignoring warnings and the 6km permanent danger zone imposed around the crater of the volcano, a Russian tourist attempted to climb Mayon by himself last Sunday but had to be rescued after he broke his leg.
At around 6pm on Wednesday, rescuers spotted Mark Yuchyugaev near the crater.
The rescue team of the Philippine National Red Cross started to ascend the 2,462-metre volcano from Barangay Mabinit in Legazpi City at 6.30am yesterday, after the Russian was able to relay his coordinates.
The coordinates indicated a location at the lower portion of Camp 2 or about 1,200 metres from the foot of Mayon. A sudden eruption last May 7 killed four foreign climbers and a Filipino guide and injured 22 others.
In their latest report to Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office chief Cedric Daep, said it would take the rescuers at least 20 minutes to pick up the Russian and start bringing him down to the foot of Mayon.
“We told them (rescuers) to carefully bring down the victim because he could not walk due to his broken leg,” Daep said.
Albay Gov Joey Salceda said earlier the rescue team would also assess the health condition of Yuchyugaev and “then the rescue team can decide the best way to bring him down to safety.”
He also said that an Air Force helicopter is ready for use should it be needed in the rescue operation. THE PHILIPPINE STAR
