TWENTY-FIVE female trekkers, including one who was injured, were rescued by volunteers in Barangay Cabatangan in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 28.

Geoffrey Gutierrez, head of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Talisay City Rescue and Disaster Assistance Network, said the experienced mountaineers who came from various parts of the country, including Manila and Cebu, were stranded when one of their climbers was injured.

Noreen Grace Cañasa, 33, of Cebu City, slipped and hit a rock, causing a fracture in her left tibia, a bone above the ankle.

Gutierrez said the group, who belong to the Philippine Women’s Mountaineers, started their climb Saturday going to Tinagong Dagat in Mount Mandalagan.

He added that they received a call for assistance around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and were able to reach the group three hours later.

Gutierrez said the rescue operation lasted for 14 hours because of heavy rains, slippery terrain, and zero visibility. The injured climber was carried on a stretcher and the rescuers took turns in carrying her.

He said they reached the base Sunday morning.

Cañasa was brought to a hospital in Bacolod City.