Mount Kinabalu landslide raises alarm
Published on: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
By: Clarence Dol
Left: The landslide that occurred at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu near Mesilou, yesterday. Right: The incident caused the river in the area, Sungai Mesilou, which flows into Sungai Liwagu, to become muddy and turbid.
RANAU: A landslide occurred at the foot of Mount Kinabalu in Mesilou, Kundasang, Monday morning, triggering fears of a recurrence of the tragic earthquake there about nine years ago.
The incident was caught on videos by several individuals and have since gone viral on social media.
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Fortunately, thus far, the landslide did not cause any damage to properties and casualties as it occurred at a location that was far from any human activities.
Ranau Fire and Rescue Station Chief Ridwan Taib said there were no reports of damage or injuries.
According to him, the department received a call about the incident from a Kinabalu Park officer at 1.30pm.
Responding to the call, a team of firefighters led by operation commander Derin Meridum rushed to the scene some 21km away from the station.
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“We learnt that an initial landslide occurred at 1.20am, causing a mud flood at 5am. Follow-up collapses continued to occur until daylight,” he said.
Ridwan said immediate monitoring with members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) was conducted near the landslide area to ensure the safety of the nearby community.
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He urged the public not to panic and to report immediately to the department or other authorities if they encounter any emergencies.
Sabah Parks Director Dr Maklarin Lakim said the landslide was in the upper region of Sungai Mesilau in Kinabalu Park, which was far away from the route climbers used to go up the mountain.
“We are monitoring the developments, including effects on river flow, and the current situation is under control,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Raqif Hamzali, 47, a homestay owner in Mesilou, said residents in the area felt tremors between 9am and 10am Monday.
“When I went outside, it looked like water was coming down from the mountain (Mount Kinabalu) causing the landslide.
“However, this incident occurred far from residential areas and hiking trails. We are not worried but are taking precautions,” he said.
He said the incident caused the river in the area, Sungai Mesilou, to become muddy and turbid.
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