7 tourists faint seeing Sagada ‘hanging coffins’

By Gina Dizon   

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Seven  tourists suffered dizziness and fainting  after trekking and seeing  “hanging coffins” site at Echo Valley here last Holy Week from April 6-8. 
    One female tourist fainted due to fumes of nearby forest fire causing the Echo Valley trek closed afternoon of April 7 upon advice of the Rural Health Unit and Bureau of Fire Protection.      
    Municipal Health Officer Assistant Geraldine Alangui, stationed at Echo Valley Medics Hub during the 2023 Oplan Semana Santa  said  fatigue, heat of the sun,  and lack of sleep  made six tourists suffer   dizziness during Maundy Thursday , April 6.
     The tourists were pronounced fine after being attended to by the responding RHU personnel.
    They were brought to the medics hub by tourist guides, police and fire personnel following an uphill climb from the tourist site.
    Alangui urged tourists who have just come from a long trip to rest before going on treks in town.
    She also said those who have comorbidities like cancer are advised not to take strenuous treks.
    Alangui advised tourists   to bring along water with them when trekking. A female tourist who walked to Echo Valley on Good Friday fainted due to the fumes of a forest fire nearby Echo Valley. 
    She was brought to St Theodore's Hospital for medical treatment. 
    Smoke  from a nearby  mountain fire  suffocated the female tourist  who  hiked  to the popular  Hanging  Coffins located below the  Calvary  Hill within a forested site.
    Police Officer Bertha Aspoen said the incident happened after the procession to the Calvary  afternoon of Good Friday in  April 7. .  
    Meantime, another male tourist suffered sprain when he was hiking at Mt Kaipitan at southern Taccong, Sagada on April 8.
    He was attended to by responding members of the PNP and BFP with the guide and brought to St Theodore’s Hospital for medical treatment.