KOTA KINABALU: Mount Kinabalu summit trail is safe and will be reopened tomorrow, Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Masidi lifted the temporary closure order following the earthquake last night, after a forward team led by Sabah Park director Dr Jamili Nais found minor damage and the lodgings intact when inspecting the length of the 8.72km trail from Timpohon Gate to the 4,095m Low’s Peak.
“There was no significant damage. There was some minor damage on the trail but it was repaired. The route is safe to be used and the accommodation at Panalaban is also not affected,” he said in a statement.
The near 10-second earthquake that measured at 5.2 on that Richter scale struck at 9.06pm in Ranau about 100km from here and tremors were felt in several districts in the west coast as well as the interior.
Three aftershocks were also recorded by the Malaysian Meteorological department.
An operation to evacuate over 200 people on the mountain, including 130 climbers, was immediately launched and all arrived at Timpohon Gate, the starting point for the climb, between 1.30am and 4.30am.
Masidi said his decision to lift the suspension came after discussions with Sabah parks, mountain guides, mountain search and rescue team (Mosar) , as well as Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (SSL) and Mountain Torq.
“All the relevant stakeholders recommended the ministry to declare the trail safe for climbing and can be reopened to public tomorrow,” he said.
Jamili and his team of nine, including park rangers, Mosar team members and staff of the Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, will spend the night in the Panalaban area, between 3,200m to 3,400m, as an additional measure to ensure all is safe.