Sabah quake: Local mountain guides hailed as unsung heroes in aftermath
Following the powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake yesterday morning (June 5), the guides were instrumental in bringing back the injured, the weak and the deceased through chaotic conditions. Up to 90 local guides were deployed for search-and-rescue operations along the mountain’s route, where over 120 climbers were trapped, missing, lost or stranded along the trail to the summit after the earthquake occurred at 7.15am yesterday.
Sabah Park staff Alip Sampil said that they sent up the guides, some who were porters carrying produce and general loads during regular days, to assist in the operations as they knew the terrain best.
The mountain guides traipsed up the mountain, some more than once, and assisted the stranded and weakened climbers back to safety amidst the damaged trail and in the darkness.