KUNDASANG - As night falls and the threat of fatal hypothermia sets in, a total of 151 people are still trapped on the summit of Mount Kinabalu while the fate of 40 others on the Via Feratta route to the mountain remains unknown.
"Prayers for all those still stuck on Mount Kinabalu," prominent activist Ambiga Sreenevasan reminded on Twitter.
Government rescue operations have gone into full swing and according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, 29 climbers had returned to base at Kundasang so far.
He added that three people – a female Turkish tourist Semiha Turkay, mountain trainer Robi Satingga, 30 and a trainer with Mountain Torq, James Mikol, 29 – sustained serious injuries during a rockfall after the 7.17am earthquake.
Three resthouses and hostels – Panar Laban, Gunting Lagadan Hut and Laban Rata – were also badly damaged.
Earlier, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said there are about 38 to 42 Sabah Parks guides and workers in the mountain with the climbers.
He said their immediate priority was to send up food and clothings to the stranded climbers as the trail out of the mountain has been blocked by boulders and rocks.
Helicopters are still unable to land due to thick clouds and strong winds at the summit area. They are also waiting for the SMART team to join in to assist in the operations. - Agencies
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