Sabah Earthquake: Stranded Kinabalu climbers ‘making way down’

Sabah Earthquake 2015

Image from Izaan AJ (Facebook)

Sabah Earthquake: Stranded Kinabalu climbers ‘making way down’ – At least 145 people are trapped on top of the Mount Kinabalu following the quake this morning and rescue operations to retrieve them are ongoing, according to Sabah Parks. Its director Dr Jamili Nais said a helicopter will be flying to Laban Rata to retrieve those who are injured.

A group of 40 people from via ferrate area are also trapped, where four people suffered injuries such as broken limbs (arm and leg) and head injuries. It was also reported that a group of climbers are making their way down one of South East Asia’s highest peaks after being stranded by an earthquake, officials say. Tourism minister for Sabah state Masidi Manjun tweeted – “The climbers were “cautiously” heading to a guest house high on Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu”

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake triggered landslides, trapping the climbers while earlier rescue attempts with helicopters had to be abandoned due to bad weather. There have been no deaths reported, but the quake was powerful enough to snap off one of Mount Kinabalu’s distinctive “Donkey’s Ear” peaks and all climbing activity on the mountain has been suspended.

Sabah Earthquake Picture

Sabah Earthquake Info – Image from BBC.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake happened at around 07:15 local time, at a depth of 10m (32ft). The epicentre was 54km (33 miles) from Mt Kinabalu. Mt Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095m, is popular with climbers from around the world where many come here to attempt the challenging “via ferrata” climbing route, where cables, metal rungs and bridges are set into the rocks on the steep terrain to help people ascend.

Masidi Manjun said that 32 guides were assisting the tourists on their way down, with the group moving “cautiously due to damaged trails”. “Other than ongoing rescue efforts, our priority is to send food, drinks and warm clothing to those still stranded on the mountain,” he said in a recent report. Some of the climbers had ascended to the summit as early as 3am to watch the sunrise as the earthquake struck.

Sabah Earthquake Updates

Sabah Earthquake Photo

Those following the recent Sabah Earthquake can get quick updates from this article which highlights the various news agencies updates. Over the weekend, tragic news hit the media where 19 people were confirmed dead from the Ranau Earthquake that shook Mount Kinabalu.

In our earlier Sabah Earthquake update, stranded Kinabalu climbers were making their way down while there are many more updates from the various agencies. Below are the up to date ones from 10.00pm, 5th June 2015 which is 15 hours after the earthquake struck Sabah this morning.


Sabah mulls barring Mount Kinabalu to climbers below 15 – Channel News Asia

  • Sabah is considering the possibility of only allowing children aged above 15 years to climb Mount Kinabalu in the wake of the death of six children in the June 5 earthquake that claimed 16 lives.
  • State education director Jame Alip said he had spoken about the matter to state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun, who is also the state executive councillor in charge of education.

Read more: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/sabah-mulls-barring-mount/1902118.html


Guides killed in earthquake saw tourists stripping on Mt Kinabalu a week before – The Straits Times Singapore

  • Mountain guides Joseph Solugin and Robbi Sappinggi saw the naked foreign tourists at the peak of Mount Kinabalu a week before both were killed in the earthquake.
  • They were hit by falling boulders following the quake on June 5.
  • Mr Solugin’s elder sister Myren said the youngest of 11 siblings looked unhappy after returning from the mountain on May 30.

Read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/sabah-quake-guides-killed-earthquake-saw-tourists-stripping-mt-kinab


55 Aftershocks Recorded, Last One On Sunday – Brudirect

  • Fifty-five aftershocks of magnitude ranging from 1.9 to 4.3 were recorded after the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Mount Kinabalu and its vicinity at 7.15am on Friday.
  • With the last aftershock recorded at 6am on Sunday with a magnitude of 2.5, Yan believed residents staying at the foot of Mount Kinabalu could heave a sigh of relief.

Rad more: http://www.brudirect.com/0-borneo/borneo-sabah/item/26682-sabah-quake-55-aftershocks-recorded-last-one-on-sunday
Nudist tourist’s Facebook post on ‘dumbass’ Sabahans goes viral, attracts death threats – Malaysian Insider

  • In the Facebook post, Emil Kaminski wrote: “… this place is a shithole, but I am stuck here for a few more days until the whole ‘naked-on-a-mountain’ thing dies down. Luckily the dumbasses here have no internet and no idea!”
  • In his post, Kaminski claimed he was in Tawau, and uploaded a photograph of a shop called Kedai Pakcik.
  • But Facebook users were quick to point out that the shop has since closed down, and that the photo was an old one taken from another website.

Read more: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nudist-tourists-facebook-post-on-dumbass-sabahans-goes-viral-attracts-death


Canadian who stripped on Mount Kinabalu calls minister an idiot, dismisses local culture – Straits Times Singapore

  • A Canadian national claiming to be one of the tourists that posed naked on the peak of Sabah’s Mount Kinabalu has called the experience the “time of my life”, brushing off Kadazan Dusun legend as “superstition” and describing the state tourism minister as an “idiot”.
  • “It is not based in logic, but superstition. I utterly do not care for superstition,” said Emil Kaminski, founder of travel blog Monkeetime, on his Facebook page.

Read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/sabah-quake-canadian-who-stripped-mount-kinabalu-calls-minister-idio


Nude tourists shouted vulgarities at mountain guide – The Star

  • The 10 Westerners who stripped and urinated on top of Mount Kinabalu had shouted vulgarities at a mountain guide who asked them to stop their unbecoming behaviour.
  • They not only called him stupid but used the four-letter word and made crude hand gestures at him, according to friends of the 35 year-old guide who escorted the Western climbers on May 10.
  •  When approached by the Star, the guide turned down a request to be interviewed on what transpired on the mountaintop for fear of tampering with police investigations.

Read more: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/08/Sabah-quake-Westerners-nude/

Kinabalu Nudist

The group of Kinabalu Nudist – Image from The Star

Malaysia DPM experiences aftershocks first hand – AsiaOne

  • It was a day of jitters for people living in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu as a series of aftershocks continued to jolt them.
  • The minor quakes even shook up Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and several VIPs on the grounds of Kinabalu Park here yesterday.
  • The Deputy Prime Minister was hastily evacuated from Kinabalu Park at 1.35pm when the Liwagu building of the headquarters shook from an aftershock.

Read more: http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/malaysia-dpm-experiences-aftershocks-first-hand
NSC looks into boosting early warning signals – Malay Mail

  • The National Security Council (NSC) has promised to discuss  improving Malaysia’s earthquake early warning system with the Meteorology Department following an earthquake in Sabah Friday that has killed 18 so far.
  • NSC secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab was reported today by Utusan Malaysia saying the country currently has 17 and 28 detectors that can track weak and strong earth movements respectively.

Read more: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/sabah-quake-nsc-looks-into-boosting-early-warning-signals

Kit Siang to Najib: If you ‘owe Sabah’, oversee post-quake recovery efforts – Malay Mail

  • Lim Kit Siang today chided Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for failing so far to visit the quake-hit areas of Sabah despite having declared just last month that he “owes Sabah”.
  • The DAP veteran said Najib, who is currently on a working visit to Saudi Arabia, could have easily flown to Sabah to visit Ranau and Kinabalu Park before he departed on Saturday night.
  • Read more: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/kit-siang-to-najib-if-you-owe-sabah-oversee-post-quake-recovery-efforts

Sabah Earthquake: Singapore and Sabah mourn victims – BBC

  • Singapore and Malaysia’s Sabah state are observing a day of remembrance for those killed in an earthquake on Mount Kinabalu.
  • Sixteen people are confirmed dead after Friday’s 6.0 magnitude quake, which hit the mountain in Sabah on Friday.
  • Among the dead were six Singaporean children on a school trip, along with their teacher and guide.
  • In Singapore, flags are at half-mast and a minute’s silence was observed at Southeast Asian Games venues.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33039206

Bodies of 5 Tanjong Katong Primary pupils, 1 teacher flown back – Singapore Times

  • The bodies of five more pupils and one teacher from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) have been identified
  • The Ministry of Education (MOE) confirmed on Sunday (June 7) as it gave more details on what happened before a 6.0-magnitude quake struck on Friday (June 5).
  • As of Sunday, six pupils and one teacher are confirmed to have died. The Singaporean adventure guide who was with them on the field trip to Mount Kinabalu died too.

Read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/sabah-quake-bodies-5-tanjong-katong-primary-pupils-1-tea
Sabah Earthquake: Confirmed Death Toll Now 16 – Malaysia Digest

  • The Search and Rescue (SAR) team combing the slope of Mount Kinabalu for survivors or bodies of climbers caught in the rock fall triggered by the earthquake last Friday morning recovered five more remains of the victims yesterday.
  • This brought the total number of confirmed deaths in the tragedy to 16 with two climbers still listed as missing.
  • This was disclosed to the press by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun at a press conference at the operation centre yesterday.
  • The team also found parts of two bodies that were so badly mangled by the falling rocks that it was impossible to make any positive identification.

Read more: http://malaysiandigest.com/frontpage/29-4-tile/556912-sabah-quake-confirmed-death-toll-now-16.html
‘ROCKS THE SIZE OF CARS’ roared down – Malaysia Chronicle

  • Malaysia- Malaysia’s earthquake sent boulders “the size of cars” thundering down the crowded slopes of Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, said a survivor who counted himself lucky to be alive as he described the terrifying scene.
  • Mohammad Razif Hadzri was among more than 150 people on or near the wide summit of the mountain, a popular destination for hikers and climbers, when the 6.0-magnitude quake struck on Friday morning.
  • Razif, a Malaysian, and six friends were enjoying the stunning views across the Borneo rainforest from the 4,095-metre-high (13,435-foot) mountain when it began to rumble.

Read more: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2view=itemid=527601:deadly-sabah-quake-rocks-the-size-of-cars-roared-downItemid=4#axzz3cQzgPSSh
Internet raises $33,000 in 24 hours for late ‘hero guide’ – AsiaOne

  • In only 24 hours, more than RM93,000 (S$33,000) in donations have poured in from all corners of the globe for Robbi Sapinggi, the “hero mountain guide” who lost his life protecting those under his care during the recent Sabah earthquake.
  • In the wake of his death, Robbi’s colleagues from Sabah-based tour operator Amazing Borneo started up a campaign on Saturday via crowdfunding site Indiegogo to raise funds for Robbi’s family.
  • By Sunday night, RM93,067.23 was donated by 500 people. The amount is more than double the original RM37,609 targeted by the campaign.

Read more: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/sabah-quake-internet-raises-33000-24-hours-late-hero-guide
Sabah official blames Malaysia earthquake on naked tourists – ThaiVisa

  • A group of tourists who stripped naked on top of Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia are being blamed for Friday’s earthquake which killed at least 16 people.
  • Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, deputy chief minister of the state of Sabah where the quake was centred, has condemned the “uncivilized and disrespectful” actions. He called for the culprits to be brought to a native court and charged according to local customs.
  • “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,” the Malay Mail online quoted Pairin saying.

Read more: http://news.thaivisa.com/world/sabah-official-blames-malaysia-earthquake-on-naked-tourists/95311/


Sabah quake: First body brought to base camp – The Star

  • The first body of earthquake victims at Mount Kinabalu was brought down to the foothill base camp at about 8.30pm Friday.
  • The remains of local mountain guide Robi Sapinggi, 30, was brought down from Laban Rata where he was found trapped in between rocks.
  • The casualties are expected to increase as rescuers continue to reach an area where 10 people were reported to be unconscious at the Via Feratta route on the mountain.
  • Three other guides are also trapped among boulders in the same area.

Full Story: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/05/sabah-quake-first-body-arrives-at-base-camp/

Sabah quake claims two lives, aftershock felt at 9.10pm – Rakyat Post

  • Two bodies arrived at the Timpohon Gate, the gateway to Mount Kinabalu, just 15 minutes apart today.
  • This follows the strong earthquake that shook parts of Sabah this morning.
  • It is not known whether they fell while climbing the mountain or were hit by falling rocks.
  • The first body was carried down by mountain guides at 8.30pm and the second arrived at 8.45pm.
  • The identities of the two casualties were not immediately known.
  • Meanwhile, another tremor was felt at 9.10pm and people were seen running out of buildings at the National Park here.

Full Story: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/06/05/sabah-quake-claims-two-lives-aftershock-felt-at-9-10pm/

Sabah minister confirms four injured, two missing on Mount Kinabalu after quake – Malay Mail

  • Officials have confirmed that four climbers were injured on Mount Kinabalu while two operators of the via ferrata trail have gone missing after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Sabah’s west coast this morning.
  • Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said in an official statement issued at around 3pm that 160 climbers are stranded, though there have not been any fatalities linked to the earthquake.

Full Story: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/sabah-minister-confirms-four-injured-two-missing-on-mount-kinabalu-after-qu


Sabah quake: Water at hot spring turns black – The Star

  • The water at Poring Hot Springs near Friday’s 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck at 7.17am has turned black.
  • Poring Hot Springs and Nature Reserve office confirmed that the water has changed colour.
  • “Yes, the water is black. But we don’t know why,” said an employee.
  • A picture of the dark coloured water has been making its rounds on social media, sparking worry among residents.

Full Story: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/05/sabah-quake-hotspring-wanter-turns-black/

Majority Of Singaporeans In Quake-hit Sabah Safe – Bernama News

  • The foreign affairs ministry has confirmed that the majority of Singaporeans in quake-hit Sabah are safe.
  • In a statement responding to media queries on the 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Sabah Friday, a ministry spokesman said:
  • “There are more than 100 registered Singaporeans at the time of the earthquake in Sabah.

Full Story: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1141548

Sabah Earthquake – Army Troops on Standby to be Deployed – Bernama

  • Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said army troops were on standby and ready to be deployed to assist in rescue operations following the 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Ranau, Sabah state,which occurred at 7.15am today.
  • “This involves one battalion in Kota Kinabalu and one battalion in Labuan, in addition to the existing troops from Kota Kinabalu,” he said on his Twitter posting.

Full Story: http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v3/read.php?id=MzA5ODM4

MOE still trying to reach 8 students, 2 teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School – Singapore Straits Times

  • Eight students and two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School are still unaccounted for after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu, Sabah in Malaysia on Friday.
  • In a statement on Friday evening, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said the remaining 21 students and six teachers from the primary school have been accounted for.

Full Story: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/sabah-quake-moe-still-trying-reach-8-students-2-teachers

Sabah quake strongest to hit Malaysia since 1976 – Malaysian Insider

  • The 6.0-magnitude earthquake centred in Ranau, Sabah, today, has set the record of being the strongest earthquake to have hit Malaysia in 39 years since 1976.
  • The moderate earthquake has broken the strongest earthquake record set in 1976, when an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck Lahad Datu,
    causing heavy damage to property and cracks in buildings.

Full Story: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/sabah-quake-strongest-to-hit-malaysia-since-1976