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Nine mountaineers who were reported lost during an expedition in southern Philippines were rescued by government soldiers after hours of search in Mt. Malindang in Misamis Occidental, a regional army commander Major General Trifonio Salazar said.

The nine were found and rescued by soldiers, from the 5th Infantry Battalion, late Wednesday. Two Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopters were dispatched to track them after villagers spotted the group near the mountain village of Gata, south of Mt. Malindang, said Salazar, commander of the First Infantry Division.

The all-Filipino mountaineers first lost radio contact after sending a distress call, saying they ran out of provisions and were lost in the mountain, Salazar said. The group was trekking on Mt. Malindang early Wednesday.