KUNDASANG: Mountain guide Hajiris Solumin would not be surprised if there were casualties in the earthquake that shook Mount Kinabalu.

“I saw boulders as big as a house falling in front of me just as I was about to start my activity with seven guests, ” said the via ferrata guide, an activity where climbers get to experience walking on the side of the mountain using special harnesses. “I quickly told my guest to turn back to the trail and we walked down.

Some of my colleagues had started earlier with their guests and I don’t know where they are now, ” he said fearing the worst for his friends and their guests.

Hajiris said the climb down the summit trail was hard because a lot of the steps were badly damaged and trails collapsed. “It will not be easy to bring down those who are still up there.”

More than 200 people were on the mountain including 195 guests registered to climb the peak or for the via ferrata activity. The others were staff of the lodgings, mountain guides and park rangers.

Hajiris also said some of the cabins were damaged in the Panar Laban area.

– http://www.nst.com.my