A decade on, survivor still haunted by Kinabalu earthquake

New Straits Times

22-05-2025

Photos and videos by Mohd Adam Arinin
RANAU: Ranau earthquake survivor Emyr Uzayr Mohamed Sadri remembers clearly that he was ready to die on June 5, a decade ago.
The 21-year-old finance undergraduate at the National University of Singapore was among 29 students and eight teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School who were stranded on Mount Kinabalu when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck at 7.15am.
"Thousands of rocks were falling towards us at very high speeds. Seeing that scene — the sheer size of the rocks, some as big as vans — there was no escape.
"I knew then it was only a matter of time.
"Some of my friends passed on, and I didn't.
"Over the years, I've developed survivor's guilt. I always wondered, why me? Why not them? They were kinder, smarter, and had more potential.
"But I see it this way now, they were God's favourites. The finest souls are taken first," he told the media here after summiting the mountain with fellow survivor Prajesh Dhimant Patel at 5.45am today.
In Singapore, Emyr volunteers at meet-the-people sessions that help residents resolve community issues, and he is involved with the M3 Foundation, which supports lower-income families.
He also runs an antiques business, Treasure at Home, combining his love of history with public education.
"I was given a second chance to spread kindness, to live positively, maybe even to inspire a few people. I do a lot of community service.
"The counselling I received was helpful, but I found a better way to cope — running.
"When I overthink or when the memories come back, I just run.
"I also started marathon training and completed a 42km run in the Standard Chartered Marathon.
"I just wanted to push myself, to see how far I could go."
Emyr and Prajesh were supposed to reach the summit yesterday, but the climb from Panalaban was suspended due to bad weather.
"Initially, we were devastated. We thought we still wouldn't be able to complete the quest, just like in 2015.
"Our tour operator, Amazing Borneo, actually came up with a plan to extend the trip, something I hadn't really thought of.
"They tried their best, asked around, and eventually, we got the extension."
Despite the joy of completing the summit, Emyr also felt sadness that he could not share the climb with seven other students, two teachers, and a Singaporean guide who died in the incident.
During the three-day climb, Emyr carried messages from his late friends' classmates to be read at the Kinabalu Earthquake Memorial.
"They just wanted to say thank you — for the kindness, for the memories.
"As for the mail I posted through the mountain mailbox, I wrote to myself. I told myself not to set such high expectations.
"Sometimes, I need to step back, take a breather, and pat myself on the back once in a while."
Unlike Prajesh, who met and climbed with his rescuer Cornellius Sannan in 2015, Emyr wishes he could identify the mountain guide who saved his life.
"There was a guy who cut my rope and told me to run to safety. I still don't know who he was.
"I couldn't see clearly because of the dust.
"But if he's out there, I just want to say I'm really, really thankful. You actually saved my life that day. I'm forever indebted to you.
"The true heroes are the mountain guides. They go out of their way to help us.
"Even 10 years ago, after the earthquake, many of them — although not on duty — went up the mountain just to help with search and rescue efforts.
"Many who are working today experienced the earthquake themselves. What does that tell you? They have passion.
"Despite everything they've seen, they're still doing their jobs. That takes a lot of courage."
In the future, Emyr plans to complete the Via Ferrata Walk the Torq with other survivors.
The site was where he lost his friends and teachers, who were on the school trip under the Omega Challenge programme.
It is learned that the school in Singapore has a memorial wall to remember the victims of the quake.
Also killed in the incident were four mountain guides, two Malaysians, a Japanese national, and a Chinese national.