Mountain guides lead 155 climbers to safety as flash floods hit Mount Kinabalu (VIDEO)
Sabah Parks confirmed that the flash floods started at around 6.15 am, when torrential rain hit the summit area, causing a rapid surge of flowing water to sweep across the KM7 trail section, one of the final stretches before the peak.
'The SAR team, MOSAR, and mountain guides monitored the situation and determined the area was safe to pass using the safety ropes installed at the site. All 155 climbers successfully crossed the fast-flowing water by around 7.48 am,' they said in a statement issued last night.
They said that weather monitoring precautions are carried out daily by Sabah Parks' SAR as early as 2 am to 3 am to ensure the environment is safe for climbers.
'If the weather remains unsafe, park rangers or SAR personnel will brief climbers and announce the closure of summit climbs,' said Sabah Parks, adding that such water surges were normal during heavy rain.
'On the day of the incident, Sabah Parks SAR had conducted weather monitoring and found the conditions to be safe. The summit trail was opened at 3.26 am. However, by around 6.15 am, the weather changed suddenly, with heavy rain and strong winds causing the formation of a flash flood at the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint,' they said.
The descending climbers had to cross the flash flood area with assistance from the mountain guides.
'Sabah Parks has already established safety SOPs for climbers that take into account weather conditions on Mount Kinabalu. Climbs to the summit will be closed if weather conditions are deemed unsafe,' they said.
'We advise climbers not to panic if they encounter similar situations. Climbers should always follow instructions from SAR personnel and mountain guides for everyone's safety.'
Videos showing the climbers being ushered across the waterlogged trail have been circulating online. Some claimed they were temporarily stranded due to the bad conditions.
Mount Kinabalu, standing at 4,095 metres, is Malaysia's highest peak and draws hundreds of trekkers each week.
Flash floods and extreme weather events have become more frequent due to changing climate patterns, prompting calls for tighter precautionary measures on the mountain trail.
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