REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA -- Five mountaineers died and another is missing when they were swept by a strong current while crossing a creek in San Jose town in Tarlac Province of Northern Philippines on Sunday afternoon, local government officials said on Monday.

Charmaine Mallari, planning officer at the Office of Civil- Central Luzon, said the victims were part of 54 mountaineers from UP Manila and Tarlac Game Nest Mountaineering Club which conducted outreach mission in the town.

Mallari said a total of 54 mountaineers were involved in the outreach mission in Iba Village in San Jose. The group distributed goods, including rice, noodles and sardines, to the poor people in the community.

Mallari said six of the 11 victims were swept away by the current and five of them were recovered dead while the other was still missing.

Marvin Guiang, of the Tarlac provincial disaster risk reduction and management council, said the mountaineers did not take the traditional route.

"They took a short cut to save time," said Guiang, adding that that the waters from the creek came from Zambales and Bataan areas. He said it was not raining in the province at the time.

"On their way back, they passed a (creek) which is not supposed the trail. They were taking a short cut because it was already 3: 30 p.m. They passed there to shorten their travel time," said Guiang.

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