5,2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HIT SABAH 08 MARCH 2018: UPDATE

Climbing activities have been resumed on 10 March, following the clearance given by the Kinabalu Park Authority after a field damage assessment.

 

The summit area

 
A technical team of 47 people lead by the Director of Sabah Parks took the mountain trail leading to the summit confirmed that the trail and all ancillary facilities were not affected by the earthquake. There were no major damages.

 

 

File pictures of the majestic mount Kinabalu. 

This is good news as the mount climbing activities are back to normal. According to the mount Kinabalu Park, there have been only a few cancellation so far. 

5,2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HIT SABAH 08 MARCH 2018

At about 09:06pm, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter at 16km south west of Ranau, jolted Mt. Kinabalu, the Interior and west coast of Sabah. Repeated tremors were felt in the city of Kota Kinabalu.

 

This was the second major earthquake happened after the last one (6.2 magnitude) shook Mt. Kinabalu and killed some 18 climbers including mountain guides on 06 June 2015. As of this evening, there was no report of serious damage or loss of life. 

During the tremors, there were 239 people including 130 climbers and 42 mountain guides at Laban Rata area (where the climbers and guides were to spend a night there before the summit climb in the  morning).  

 Climbers assembled at the Emergency gathering point after the tremors

Following the emergency procedures, all Mt. Kinabalu climbers, mountain guides including workers at Laban Rata area were ordered to leave immediately. They started their "descend" at 09:40pm and reached Tempohon gate near Park HQ at about 04:20.

The Director of Sabah Parks told the press that a team has been sent to do damage assessment of the trails up Mt. Kinabalu. He would make an announcement when his team returned.

Meanwhile, all climbing activities have been suspended till further notice.   

 
** Pictures - courtesy of Whatsapp groups