Sabah Quake: 8 pupils, 2 teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School are missing

[Pal]

Eight pupils and two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) who were on a Mount Kinabalu excursion are now uncontactable after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu, Sabah in Malaysia on Friday (Jun 5).

The 12-year-old students and their teachers were understood to have departed Mount Kinabalu on Wednesday for a leadership programme and were expected to return on Monday afternoon.

Anxious parents were seen rushing into the school for a meeting with teachers on Friday afternoon. One woman said her daughter was injured and is "on the way to hospital".

Of the 29 students and eight teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School, 21 students and six teachers have been accounted for. MFA and ISOS are rendering assistance for their safe return to Singapore.

Source:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sin ... 95434.html

[Pal]

Six students and a teacher from the school, and a Singaporean adventure guide were among the 18 killed at Mount Kinabalu when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Sabah state on Friday morning. One teacher and one student are still missing.

What a sad news. Don't you think the students are too young for such a trip? Their parents must be devastated.

[ecureilx]

Six students and a teacher from the school, and a Singaporean adventure guide were among the 18 killed at Mount Kinabalu when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Sabah state on Friday morning. One teacher and one student are still missing.

What a sad news. Don't you think the students are too young for such a trip? Their parents must be devastated.

From those who have scaled Mount K it's not a technical climb. as good as going on a camping trip is how a friend described and he is on a prosthetic leg.

[Wd40]

Extremely sad and serious bad luck, IMO.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/05/asia/ ... alu-quake/

[JR8]

From those who have scaled Mount K it's not a technical climb. as good as going on a camping trip is how a friend described and he is on a prosthetic leg.

I haven't climbed it, but I have climbed Mt. Fuji which is a similar height.
re: Fuji. The journey up is one very long very hard slog. Then as you 'elevate' the air gets thinner and as your tiredness increases, that coincides with increasing depletion of O2 levels, so it's a big double-whammy.
Weather-fronts come and go, at lower altitudes you can cope as you can shelter for a while around a ridge, or similar. The higher you get the less those opportunities are.
Climbing Fuji can be either a hard constantly uphill hike, maybe 8-10hrs (and it's usually done at night) if you're aiming for the top, or your path gets stopped in it's tracks higher up if a weather front is coming in. That's what happened to us, we got within 3-400 vertical metres of the top (1-1.5hrs more?), a thick fog descended, the wind whipped up, and then the typhoon claxons went off, and all climbers had to evacuate *immediately*. It wasn't quite mayhem, but it wasn't fun; try running down a mountain in fog, at night and you'll see what I mean. In some ways it was a relief [!], permission to quit, though looking back it would have been really nice to say I've hit the peak.
When I attempted Fuji there were many people there, but there were no/zero children. If climbing Kinabalu is anything like climbing Fuji it is NOT something children should be doing. It needs experience, maturity, and if your group gets broken up by fog/storms, the ability to make intelligent and informed independent decisions as to how to get the h*** out of there safely.

Just my 2c.

--- Subsequently when ever I've seen 'Fuji-san' either from the ground or air, you might imagine how it torments me that she beat me that day.

[x9200]

Don't you think the students are too young for such a trip? Their parents must be devastated.

Frankly I think it is irrelevant. It was just a misfortune and nothing like this would happen if not the earthquake. Facing such tremendous loss people tend to look for someone to put the blame on. Everybody can understand this but it's not the right way.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The general consensus for the trek up Kinibalu is that it is suitable for a fit 10 year old. It is just a sad fact that Gaia decided to let loose a reminder of who she is and were they are. Had it not been for the unique structure at the top of the mountain, the double horns, and the subsequent collapse of one of the horns, it probably would have only resulted in some skinned knees and bruises. To now forbid class trips would be sad as there is no way it could a been prevented or known about. I guess now, the nanny state will prevent ALL trips anywhere as if they are anywhere on the pacific rim, it's all susceptible to quakes and volcanic eruptions. Heck, tremors have been felt in Singapore and walls in Bedok HDBs have cracked in years gone by.

[the lynx]

I've scaled Mt Kinabalu few times. It is not a treacherous hike. It is a stroll at the park. The section where the children fell victim is closer to the submit where the flat rock-ground is at an incline. Lose your balance and you hit your head on the ground. Just like how anyone would hit their head if they were to climb stairs or wheelchair ramp during an earthquake.

The problem is that when one rolls down, there aren't many large rock structures or even trees to stop the roll, despite the vast flatness.

[sundaymorningstaple]

As far as the students being too young, No. They all were at least 12 years old and well chaperoned. Was the teacher too young? Of course not. Was the guide too young? What about all the student on the Korean Ferry a year ago? Same-same.

[the lynx]

My heart goes to all the victims, especially the children. So young, yet Mother Nature's wrath is beyond reasons and mercy.

The heroic guide, Robbi (may his soul rest in peace), is my friend's buddy. He urged his charges to climb down without him because of his extensive head injuries could have slowed the group's descent to safety. He later succumbed to injuries.

Many Borneans believe that Aki Nabalu (the deity who ruled the mountain) was stirred to anger by the recent nude stunts pulled by a bunch of foreigners (photos got circulated in the Internet for the last two months), and hence the earthquake. Whether you believe in mythology or not (and whether this earthquake is a divine act of rage), it is always wise to respect the locals' and their culture.

[the lynx]

I've scaled Mt Kinabalu few times. It is not a treacherous hike. It is a stroll at the park. The section where the children fell victim is closer to the submit where the flat rock-ground is at an incline. Lose your balance and you hit your head on the ground. Just like how anyone would hit their head if they were to climb stairs or wheelchair ramp during an earthquake.

The problem is that when one rolls down, there aren't many large rock structures or even trees to stop the roll, despite the vast flatness.

OK I stand corrected, it seemed that the school children were doing the Walk The Torq during the earthquake. I've never tried it before.

http://mountaintorq.com/via-ferrata/activities/walk-the-torq-route/

[menudown]

RIP..and condolences to the parents and family of the teachers.whatever it is, this tragedy is unforeseen they are victims of the earthquake..but looking at some of the videos posted, I still think this is like the above 17 route thou

[menudown]

Many Borneans believe that Aki Nabalu (the deity who ruled the mountain) was stirred to anger by the recent nude stunts pulled by a bunch of foreigners (photos got circulated in the Internet for the last two months), and hence the earthquake. Whether you believe in mythology or not (and whether this earthquake is a divine act of rage), it is always wise to respect the locals' and their culture.

Five of the tourists are believed to still be in Malaysia and will be barred from leaving on the offence of gross indecency, police have said.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/ ... -peak.html

[PNGMK]

A friend lost her 12 year old son. Very sad.

[earthfriendly]

One parent's perspective.

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singap ... tor=CS1-10