Sabah quake: Helicopter unable to penetrate thick clouds, SAR halted

The Search and Rescue Operation for earthquake victims on Mount Kinabalu was halted today due to bad weather.

Ranau district police chief, DSP Farhan Lee Abdullah said, the operation which ended at 5.30pm involved personnel on foot and in the air using army helicopters, the Rescue and Fire Department and the Layang-Layang Aerospace.

He added the helicopter was unable to land at Laban Rata due to thick clouds.

"The rescue operation, which began at 6am with personnel on foot and in the air, was fruitless.

"Three helicopters used in the operation were unable to penetrate the thick clouds in the area. Strong winds also hampered the rescue mission," he said.

Farhan said personnel on foot were also unable to reach the targeted area due to aftershocks which caused an avalanche of rocks down the mountain slope.

"Rescue personnel were unable to reach the targeted area which is at Kilometer 7.5 but they were only able to reach Kilometer 6.8," he said.

Farhan added the number of victims remain at 16 people, where 11 of them have been claimed by their next-of-kin. Five victims have yet to be claimed while two more are still missing.

In a related development, authorities are still in the midst of identifying the remains of a victim through DNA process.

"We will resume the operation tomorrow morning and hopefully the weather will clear up," he said.

Sabah Parks authorities meanwhile said, an aerial survey today found that Mount Kinabalu was seriously damaged in the south.