Before and after photos of Donkey’s Ear Peak circulated on Instagram – BP Online Screenshot, 5 June, 2015.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks has cancelled all climbing activities at Mount Kinabalu today following the quake earlier due to safety reasons.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun informed this in his twitter account @MasidiM at 8.39am today.
“Loose stones and borders are falling due to the tremors,” he said.
Climber’s huts at Panar Laban and Gunting Lagadan were badly damaged but there was no report of human injury, Masidi added.
“Sadly, the iconic Donkey’s Ears at Mount Kinabalu may have been badly damaged, awaiting confirmation,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, about 200 climbers were forced to cancel their plans to ascend Mount Kinabalu.
The visitors’ counter at Kinabalu Park was filled with the group when they were told they climb had to be cancelled.
Parks manager Yassin Miki said this measure has been agreed on for safety reasons.
One of the 200 aspiring is 39-year-old Faizan Osman, from Perak, said he was disappointed but was still grateful not to be one of those stranded on top of the mountain.
Faizan is among 24-member expedition group who were scheduled for the 9am climb before receiving directive from the Parks management that all climbing activities are cancelled.
“Our team called Avengerholic Hikers Group are mostly first timers to Sabah, coming all the way from Peninsular to do the climb,” he said met at the park’s counter.
Meanwhile, Sabah Park director Dr Jamili Nais said rescue operations to evacuate some 145 climbers trapped on top of the Mount Kinabalu are ongoing.
He said a helicopter will be flying to Laban Rata to retrieve those who are injured.
“There are 105 to 109 estimated including climbers, guides and a Sabah Parks officer trapped but this was not on the dangerous area, so we advised them not to move for fear of falling rocks.
“We ask coordinating rescue operations, we ask them to wait until the situation stabilise before any other attempts.
“Another 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.
“We have moved the injured ones down to Laban Rata area for the helicopter to retrieve them in nearest time,” said Dr Jamili when contacted.
Watch a video taken from Laban Rata below: