Sabah quake: South peak of Mount Kinabalu looks like 'claw-like' formation

Following a 6.0 magnitude earthquake early Friday, revealed massive damages in the southern part of Mount Kinabalu causing permanent changes to its rock formation.

State Taman-Taman Sabah director Dr Jamili Nais discovered most damage had occurred on the southern part of the mountain after conducting a surveillance circling the mountain, recently.

“The falling rubbles the foot of the mountain seemed they were clawed - and these marks were caused by ‘fault line’ on the surface of the giant boulders that had slid down and formed a stream-like rubbles and boulders flowing downward,” said Jamili, adding that the area has recorded the highest number of deaths among climbers and mountain guides.

Following the massive damages caused by the May 5 earthquake that struck the city of Ranau, the path normally used by climbers must now be closed to climbers.

“I can see the path to the Eastern Plateau – which is hardly used by climbers but experienced mountaineers like us -- is now off-limits and has been transformed into ‘technical climb’.

“For the ascent to the peak, several areas must be rectified and an alternative route needs to be identified,” he added.

The initial investigation around the mountain also revealed minor damages had occurred in the north and east sides of the mountain.