Timeline: Mayon Volcano tragedy
Thai nationals Nithi Ruangpisit, left, and Tanut Ruchipiyarak, rest in a hospital in Legazpi city with their mountain climbing gear after surviving a steam-driven explosion of Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. AP PHOTO/NELSON SALTING
MONDAY, MAY 6
4 a.m.—George Cordovilla’s group of nine people, including five Thais, start their climb on Mayon via Sto. Domingo, Albay, with a plan to stay overnight and to descend the following morning.
10 a.m.—Four Germans arrive in Legazpi, call Marti Calleja, owner of Bicol Adventure and Travel Tours, to arrange a Mayon climb with Austrian Sabine Strohberger.
1:30 p.m.—Calleja group proceeds to Bonga, Bacacay, to meet Filipino guides.
4:30 p.m.—Calleja group starts trek, reaches Camp 2, some 1,200 meters from the foot of the 2,400-meter peak, spends the night there.
TUESDAY, MAY 7
1 a.m.—Cordovilla group reaches Mayon’s crater, puts up camp some 1,400 feet from the crater.
4 a.m.—Calleja group prepares to hike from Camp 2 to Camp 3 at the summit, but rain prevents this.
6 a.m.—German group departs from Camp 2.
8 a.m.—Mayon erupts.
8:30 a.m.—The Department of Health sends medical teams to Bonga.
9 a.m.—Gov. Joey Salceda forms Joint Task Force Mayon, including personnel from military, police, Air Force and Red Cross.
12:20 p.m.—Strohberger and Bernard Hernandez are rescued, followed an hour later by Kenneth Jesalva, both guides.
3:27 p.m.—Thais Nithi Ruangpisit and Tanut Ruchipiyarak are rescued.
4:30 p.m.—Nicanor Mabao Jr., a guide for the German group, is rescued.
11 p.m.—A 50-man Army team is dispatched to recover five dead.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
5:30 a.m.—Army team locates fatalities at the “Rabbit’s Ear” near the crater.
3:07 p.m.—Thai Boonchai Jattupornong is found.
