- Malay Mail Online
- Julia Chan
KUNDASANG, June 5 — A Malaysian doctor who was on Mount Kinabalu
today claimed that at least one person died after the area was hit by a
6.0 magnitude earthquake this morning.
Dr Redzlan Abdul Rahman said that he saw three bodies and managed to check one and confirmed there was no pulse.
“I tried to checked her pulse, but I couldn’t find any.
“I believe she was Singaporean,” he said adding that he was not sure of the other victims.
Dr
Redzlan who was here to chaperone a group of 15 students from Sekolah
Menengah Tengku Kudin Laut in Pahang said he first felt the tremors when
he was at a hut in Sayat Sayat and ran out.
“You could actually
see the hut’s posts shaking and later on, the boulders from the mountain
broke off and started falling down. It was so scary,” he said, while
shuddering.
Dr Redzlan was one of the 52 climbers who have made it down from the mountain today. Some reportedly suffered injuries.
According
to fire and rescue services operations statistics, another 137 are
still stranded between km7.5 and km8 on the mountain summit where fallen
rocks have blocked the path.
“I had to take a detour that was far off the beaten path to get down,” said Dr Redzlan.
Sabah Parks staff Alip Sampin said that about 200 mountain guides have been deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.
“However, many are on standby at lower points in the climb and awaiting further instructions from coordinators,” he said.
Bad weather conditions and the possibility of aftershocks are hampering search and rescue operations.
Helicopters are also seen circling the mountain.
SINGAPORE — The parents of the schoolchildren, unaccounted for after yesterday's deadly earthquake in Sabah, are being flown to Kota Kinabalu by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said this morning (June 6).
“The parents accompanied by MOE officers and counsellors, and Home Team medical and liaison officers are being flown there by RSAF this morning,” wrote Mr Teo on Facebook.
Father of one of the missing Tanjong Katong Primary School students bound for Sabah, Mr James Ho, said he and his wife are "distraught" after reading news reports that a 12-year-old Singaporean girl has been found dead.
Asked if he received any updates about his daughter's whereabouts, Mr Ho said: "No. We met with Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday and are now waiting at the Paya Lebar airport, on our way to Sabah...after the interviews with (the media yesterday), things moved a lot faster."
A Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesperson said in a statement this morning that the Ministry is leading a team — comprising of counsellors, officials from the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Transport Ministry — to Kota Kinabalu on a RSAF C-130 aircraft.
“Family members of students and teachers of Tanjong Katong Primary School are also on the same flight,” MOE said
It added that arrangements are being made for the students and teachers of Tanjong Katong Primary School who have been accounted for to return home.
After sending the parents off from Paya Lebar airbase, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said in a Facebook post: "I feel the same anguish. It is a very difficult time for the families and for all of us. Let us all be strong together."
Yesterday, eight students and two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) who were on a school trip to Mount Kinabalu were uncontactable after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Sabah.
They were among a total of 29 students and eight teachers from TKPS on the excursion. The others had been accounted for.
Fifty-eight students and eight teachers from Fuchun Secondary and Greenridge Secondary who were also on Mount Kinabalu when the quake hit had arrived at Changi Airport after midnight yesterday.
-- TODAY
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 11 fatalities have been recorded after an earthquake hit the vicinity of Mount Kinabalu on Friday, the Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Masidi Manjun announced on Twitter on Saturday afternoon (Jun 6). He added that 9 bodies were recovered on Saturday, and efforts to get helicopters to bring the bodies down are in progress.
The minister added that two of the 11 bodies have been identified and eight are still missing. "(The) Police forensic team have arrived to assist," he said.
137 HIKERS RESCUED SO FAR
Malaysian rescuers brought the last of 137 hikers down to safety Saturday after the quake stranded them atop Mount Kinabalu, an official said, but media reports claimed that at least two people were killed.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck near the picturesque mountain, a popular tourist destination, early Friday, triggering landslides and sending huge granite boulders tumbling down the 4,095m peak's wide, jagged crown.
The quake, one of the strongest in the country in decades, jolted a wide area of the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, shattering windows, cracking walls, and causing other relatively minor damage.
"The 137 climbers have safely arrived at the Park HQ, the last batch at 2.50 am. We have a challenging task today searching for those missing," the minister said Saturday on his Twitter feed.
At the time, he did not specify how many were feared missing or dead, but a few hours earlier had tweeted "it is with much regret that I have to inform that there have been fatalities at Mt Kinabalu."
He promised details on Saturday.
Authorities also have said previously that at least several people were injured but have not provided clear information.
However, Malaysian media reports said that a local tour guide and a woman believed to be Singaporean had been killed on the mountain.
The Kinabalu Today news portal quoted search and rescue personnel saying most of those who were on the mountain at the time of the quake were Malaysian. But it said they also included hikers from Singapore, the United States, Philippines, Britain, Thailand, Turkey, China and Japan.
The stranded climbers had been stuck on the picturesque summit throughout Friday night, slowed by danger from continuing rockfalls and damage to a key trail.
Authorities were unable to reach them via helicopter due to bad weather and visibility.
The US Geological Survey had said the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres, its epicentre located about 54 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah.
No major damage was reported caused by the quake, which sent residents of the region fleeing in panic from homes and buildings, including Kota Kinabalu's International Airport, according to witnesses.
Authorities have closed Mount Kinabalu for climbing indefinitely.
Strong earthquakes are rare in Malaysia, which lies just outside the Ring of Fire, the belt of seismic activity running around the Pacific basin.
- AFP/CNA/dl
Sabah deputy chief minister says quake brought on by tourists who stripped naked at Mount Kinabalu
KUNDASANG - The Sabah earthquake that has so far taken the lives of 11 climbers was a result of the action of Western tourists who had stripped naked near Mount Kinabalu's summit last month, said the state's Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said the tragedy was a "confirmation" of the consequences of the actions of the 10 Europeans who he said had been disrespectful to local customs. He called on the culprits to be brought to a native court to be charged, the Malay Mail Online reported.
"Whether other people believe this or not, it's what we Sabahans believe. When the earthquake happened, it's like a confirmation of our beliefs," he said.
"It is a sacred mountain and you cannot take it lightly," he added.
-- ST
CNA: No disruptions at Kota Kinabalu airport; parents of missing children await news.
Sabah quake: Second weaker 4.5 quake hits Ranau
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A second earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 occurred near Ranau district in Sabah on Saturday afternoon.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the "weak earthquake" occurred 25km north-west of Ranau at 1.45pm.
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake will see noticeable shaking of indoor objects and rattling noises. It generally causes nil to minimal damage.
Tremors were felt in Ranau, Tambunan, Pedalaman, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud in Sabah.
On Friday, a "moderate" 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 16km north-west of Ranau at 7.15am.
According to the latest report, 11 climbers on Mount Kinabalu were killed, and eight more are still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing.
Sabah quake: Mountain guide Robert Sapinggi remembered as kind, friendly and funny
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Mountain guide Robert Sapinggi joined Coalition Duchenne four times to scale Mount Kinabalu but he will not be joining the organisation for its next climb.
Sapinggi was killed at Mount Kinabalu in Friday's earthquake that has so far claimed 11 lives.
He was described as someone who was kind, friendly and funny, and who loved being a mountain guide.
"Robbi loved his job, and he loved being a mountain guide. His safety briefings were comprehensive, and he took them very seriously. Robbi loved meeting new people, he was kind and funny, and made everyone laugh," Coalition Duchenne executive director Cath Jayasuriya.
Mount Kinabalu closed for at least three weeks
KUNDASANG – Mount Kinabalu will be closed to climbers for at least three weeks following the aftermath of a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that hit parts of Sabah yesterday (June 5).
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said that Sabah Parks will be closing the mountain to visitors in view of new safety concerns and to assess damages.
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“Firstly, the track is very dangerous now. The facilities at the summit are also badly damaged and will need to be repaired,” he said.
Yesterday’s earthquake caused major damage to several buildings and structures near its epicentre in Kinabalu Park and Ranau.
Among the worst hit were accommodation in the mountain’s Panar Laban, Gunting Lagadan and Laban Rata stations.
The quake, the worst in Malaysia in 39 years, already has death toll of 11 so far with another eight people still missing.
“The recovery will see a massive change in infrastructure. It will take time to rebuild everything with more safety aspects,” said Mr Masidi.
Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also infrastructure development minister, said his ministry will consider a policy change in the future to safeguard against a similar incident from happening.
“We will review the damaged facilities and conduct thorough survey and decide how to proceed,” he said.
It was recently reported in the Borneo Post that some 50,000 people climb the mountain annually, contributing about RM9 million (S$3.25 million) to conservation of the park.
-- THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is doing all it can to save the lives of those involved in the Sabah earthquake, President Najib Razak has said, according to Bernama.
Mr Najib said on Saturday the quake had shocked the nation and many Malaysians were saddened by the news of the deaths.
"The people are now shocked and saddened by the earthquake that occurred in Ranau, Sabah. All efforts are being taken to rescue the victims of the tragedy," he said in a speech.
Nine more bodies were found on Saturday, bringing the death toll from the quake to 11, with eight people still unaccounted for, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Saturday ordered the National Security Council (NSC) to introduce an early warning system for earthquakes, including for schools, Bernama reported.
Mr Muhyiddin said 23 schools in six districts in Sabah had been affected by the quake.
"I have also ordered the rescue teams to continue with action to rescue all victims, including those who were stranded on Mount Kinabalu," he said, according to Bernama.
The bodies of 11 climbers had been recovered following the 6.0-magnitude quake which struck early Friday in Mount Kinabalu, Sabah’s minister for tourism Masidi Manjun said in a post on Twitter on Saturday. Eight people were still unaccounted for, he said.
A total of 137 climbers, including several foreigners, who had been stranded when the quake struck have safely returned to the park’s headquarters.
-- ST
SINGAPORE: A group of about 50 gathered outside the holding area in Terminal 2 to offer support for the 19 students and 2 teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School, returning from Mount Kinabalu on Saturday afternoon (Jun 6).
Among those gathered outside were a group of parent volunteers from the school, some of whose children have already graduated.
One of the volunteers whom Channel NewsAsia spoke with said the group wanted to offer their support to the parents and teachers. The parent, who declined to be named, said her daughter graduated from the school two years ago, but that she was still a volunteer with the school.
She said her daugher had also gone for the leadership trip to Mount Kinabalu, and defended the school's leadership programme, saying students are prepared for the trip months in advance.
According to the volunteer, the students go through vertical marathon and muscle training, and not all those who undergo the training are selected.
The volunteer also spoke about the close bond between the teachers, principal and parents. She said one of the teachers still unaccounted has been close to the parent volunteer group, and has "always been there for them."
- CNA/dl
SINGAPORE - The parents of a Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) pupil injured during a Mount Kinabalu school trip have visited their son at a hospital at Kota Kinabalu.
The 12-year-old boy suffered a fractured skull and back injuries when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Sabah on Friday. (June 5)
Mr Sadri Farick, 37, posted a picture of his son, Emyr Uzayr, on Saturday afternoon (June 6).
"Emyr Uzayr is back. Lets pray for the rest. Seeing him is the best thing in my life," wrote Mr Sadri who flew to Sabah on Saturday with his wife, as well as parents of other missing pupils from the school.
"If we were to climb to highest mountain, we will, just to save a helpless child. If only we can save the rest," he said.
The boy is among a group of 29 pupils and eight teachers from the school who were on an overseas learning journey.
Seven TKPS pupils and two teachers are still unaccounted for.
The rest will return to Singapore on Saturday.
Three teachers will remain in Kota Kinabalu to continue working with the onsite team.
Separately, a Singaporean parent has identified the boy in a picture circulated online as her son. The picture, which was posted on several Malaysian websites and Facebook accounts, showed a rescuer carrying the boy on his back.
The parent, who posted on an education-related Facebook page, said the boy is his son from TKPS. "Thts (sic) my son from TKP... he is currently receiving treatment for his injuries... please continue to pray for the team... can nvr thk the Sabahan rangers enough for his rescue efforts," wrote the parent,who posted under the name "Sabrena El Huda".
Reports quoting the Malaysian authorities said a 12-year-old Singaporean girl was among those killed. But the Singapore authorities have yet to confirm the death.
-- ST
KOTA KINABALU - Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has declared Monday as a day of mourning in remembrance of the victims of the earthquake that struck Sabah early Friday, Bernama reported on Saturday.
The bodies of 11 climbers had been recovered following the 6.0-magnitude quake which struck early Friday in Mount Kinabalu, Sabah's minister for tourism Masidi Manjun said in a post on Twitter on Saturday. Eight people were still unaccounted for, he said.
A total of 137 climbers, including several foreigners, who had been stranded when the quake struck have safely returned to the park's headquarters.
-- ST
TODAY: 19 Tanjong Katong Primary students shaken but fine, says Education Minister.
CNA: S'porean schoolgirl killed in Sabah Quake identified as Peony Wee from Tanjong Katong Pri, MOEsg confirms.
RIP.
Sabah quake: Some bodies 'almost impossible' to bring down, say rescuers
KUNDASANG (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Efforts to bring down bodies of climbers from Mount Kinabalu have been hampered as some are crushed and pinned under tonnes of rocks and boulders after Friday's earthquake.
Rescuers, who returned from the scene late on Saturday, said their helicopters faced difficulty in flying low on the mountain top and had to keep below 10,000 feet.
"Many attempts had to be made to fly out the bodies," said a rescuer. So far, 11 bodies have been flown down from the mountain top to base camp.
The rescuers were concerned that some of the bodies were crushed and pinned under tonnes of rocks and boulders.
The fact that the bodies were pinned underneath loose rocks made it "almost impossible" to retrieve them, one of them said.
"Some of the bodies were buried under the rubble. We can see body parts," explained a member of the search and rescue team in the face of social media discussions on how to bring down the remains.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital director Razak Tambi told reporters that autopsies would be carried out on the bodies on Sunday.
Families of the victims were seen entering the mortuary but the media was kept out.
A statement from the Ministry of Education (MOE) said: “We are deeply saddened to inform that the Malaysian authorities have retrieved the body of a 12-year-old female, which has been verified by the next-of-kin as Wee Ying Ping Peony from Tanjong Katong Primary School. MOE and other government officials are in Kota Kinabalu, and will provide assistance and support to Peony’s family during this difficult period.”
A total of 29 pupils and eight teachers from the school were at Mount Kinabalu on an overseas learning journey when the quake struck on Friday.
Most of the pupils and teachers have returned to Singapore, others will do so on Saturday evening.
The first batch of pupils and teachers, who touched down on Saturday afternoon, were ushered into a private holding room at Changi Airport where their families were waiting. Tears of relief were shed and the children were seen hugging their parents.
At least one pupil was on a wheelchair with his leg in a cast.
TKPS principal Caroline Wu said at the airport: "On the ground, there have been MOE care officers rendering support to the students and teachers coming back as well as their families.
"With regard to those who are not accounted for yet, we are still doing our utmost best working with MOE and relevant ministries to reach out to them."
Another two pupils and one teacher, who require more medical attention, will be returning on air ambulances later on Saturday.
Three other teachers will remain in Kota Kinabalu to continue working with the onsite team and to look after a 12-year-old pupil who is receiving medical treatment in Kota Kinabalu.
Malaysian paper The Star quoted a pupil from TKPS on the scene during the quake. Amal Ashley Lim, 12, told the paper that keeping calm as the rocks rained down on her group near the summit saved her life.
A teacher bundled her and several other students under a shallow overhang for protection. They watched helplessly as some of her other schoolmates were struck by the falling rocks.
As they sheltered under the overhang, her friend started crying.
"I did my best to calm her."
When a teacher who went to look for the others did not come back after 15 minutes, Ashley started shouting for help. Her cries were heard by their guide James Michael who led her and her friends to safety.
Ashley was among the first in the group to complete the trek at about 7.15am, said The Star.
According to the Malaysian paper, efforts to bring down the bodies of climbers from Mount Kinabalu are being hampered as some are crushed and pinned under rocks and boulders.
"Many attempts had to be made to fly out the bodies," said a rescuer. So far, 11 bodies have been flown down from the mountain top to the base camp.
- ST
SINGAPORE: The bodies of five more pupils and one teacher from Tanjong Katong Primary School have been identified, the Ministry of Education has confirmed.
This is the full statement:
We are deeply saddened to inform that the bodies recovered by the Malaysian authorities have been identified by their next-of-kin as five students and one teacher from Tanjong Katong Primary School. They are:
1. Ameer Ryyan bin Mohd Adeed Sanjay
2. Emilie Giovanna Ramu
3. Loo Jian Liang Terrence Sebastian (Teacher)
4. Matahom Karyl Mitzi Higuit
5. Rachel Ho Yann Shiuan
6. Sonia Jhala
A Singaporean adventure guide, Muhammad Daanish bin Amran, who accompanied the students, has also been identified.
Operations are continuing to locate the remaining one student Navdeep Singh Jaryal S/O Raj Kumar, and one teacher Mohammad Ghazi Bin Mohamed.
MOE and other government officials are in Kota Kinabalu, and are providing assistance and support to the families during this difficult period.
Arrangements are being made for the family members and the bodies of the deceased to be flown back to Singapore as soon as possible.
Those who wish to pen well-wishes for #SabahQuake victims at TKPS can do so till 5pm today http://str.sg/UEH
UPDATE: Tribute corner at TKPS for #SabahQuake victims opened till Tuesday, 8am-5pm http://str.sg/UEH
ST: Four weak earthquakes have hit Sabah within 4 hours on Sunday morning.
CNA: Parent of former student that went on trip to Mt Kinabalu says TKPS students prepare months in advance.
Sabah quake update: 8 Singaporeans dead, 2 more missing
Bodies of 5 Sabah Quake victims found today, 3 of them brought down by helicopter.
Originally posted by QX179R:Bodies of 5 Sabah Quake victims found today, 3 of them brought down by helicopter.
Bodies of 2 victims found today are physically unidentifiable, say Malaysian officials.