A strong earthquake that jolted Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu killed at least 11 people and left another eight missing, an official said yesterday, as authorities searched for survivors on the peak.
The magnitude 6 quake struck early on Friday near the picturesque mountain, a popular tourist destination, sending landslides and huge granite boulders tumbling down from the 4,095m peak’s wide, craggy crown.
“From Kinabalu park management, I want to express my condolences to the families of the victims,” Sabah State Minister of Tourism Masidi Manjunfor said as he announced the toll at the mountain park’s office on Borneo Island.
Photo: AFP
Masidi said authorities could not yet confirm the identities of the dead and missing people.
Malaysian media reports said they included members of a Singaporean primary-school group on an excursion to the peak, including a 12-year-old girl who was killed.
“It’s very sad. The Singapore children were so happy when they arrived here, but now...” Masidi said, trailing off as he shook his head.
Malaysian rescuers earlier yesterday finished bringing down to safety 137 hikers who were stuck on the mountain for up to 18 hours after the quake damaged a key trail and they faced the threat of continuing rockfalls.
Crews and officials engaged in further search and rescue efforts were kept on edge by a series of aftershocks, including one in the afternoon that Malaysian officials rated at magnitude 4.5.
The temblor sent staff and journalists scurrying out of the park’s headquarters.
Malaysian media reports said most of the people on the peak when the quake hit were Malaysian, but that they also included hikers from Singapore, the US, the Philippines, Britain, Thailand, Turkey, China and Japan.
A Malaysian climbing guide was among those dead, local media said.
Authorities have not provided details on injuries suffered by climbers.
Major earthquakes are rare in Malaysia and the tremor was one of the strongest in decades. It jolted a wide area of Sabah, shattering windows, cracking walls and sending people fleeing outdoors.
There were no reports of major damage nor any casualties other than those on the mountain.
Masidi said all climbing would be suspended at Mount Kinabalu for at least three weeks to allow for repairs to damaged trails, accommodation and other facilities.
Malaysia’s Bernama news agency quoted a climber describing his terror as the quake unleashed a shower of boulders from the peak.
“Rocks were raining down fast, like rock blasting,” Lee Yoke Fah, a 60-year-old Malaysian who suffered minor injuries, was quoted as saying. “I am not going to climb again, I am scared.”
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS