By Olivia Miwil- March 10, 2018 @3.17pm
RANAU: The Mount Kinabalu summit trail reopened today after two days of closure, with the number of climbers exceeding the daily limit of 135.
The summit trail was temporarily closed when a near 10-second earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Ranau on Thursday night.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun had lifted the temporary climbing suspension after an inspection and technical team confirmed that the safety and accommodations were intact.
Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais said there had been additional requests from climbers to join today’s group as they could not make theirs during the closure.
“We are accommodating some of the requests from the groups (who were supposed to climb yesterday) but it will depend on availability of the slots.
“As for those who want their money back, Sabah Parks will arrange to return their fees,” he said when contacted.
Jamili and his team members who climbed up to Panalaban area last night to test the route, said the trail was safe although they felt mild tremors during their stay.
It is also learned that there are 48 mountain guides accompanying the group today to scale up the mountain.
Meanwhile, Kinabalu Mountain Guides Association president Junaydie Sihan said the past experience in 2015 earthquake helped the evacuation team to take swift action on Thursday night.
“When the earthquake hit at 9.06pm, there were 47 guides on the mountain and about 20 of us also came forward to help with the evacuation.
“We also received clear instructions from in-charge authorities of the operation and we were more alert about what to do, therefore the flow of the operation was quite good,” he said, adding some of them were also trained as Mountain Search and Rescue (Mosar) personnel.
Deputy Sabah Fire and Rescue department director (operations) Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim said Sabah Parks was quick to respond and called relevant agencies for evacuation.
The 7-hour process to evacuate 239 people including 130 climbers on Thursday involved 47 personnel from Fire and Rescue department, three from police department, 12 Civil Defence Department and 11 from the hospital.
“It was challenging to bring down the victims in the dark, slippery and hilly routes to Timpohon gate.
“All of them including two people who suffered acute mountain sickness, reached the starting point at 4.30am on Thursday,” he added.
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