SINGAPORE: Hope that their missing loved ones survived the magnitude 6 earthquake in Sabah were extinguished for the families of eight trekkers from Singapore yesterday, as their bodies were identified and flown home.
Two Singaporeans — a teacher and a student from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) — remain missing in what is among one of the biggest tragedies involving Singaporeans on an overseas trip since five dragon-boaters died in Cambodia in 2007 while representing Singapore at a race.
Six TKPS Primary 6 students were among the dead: Ameer Ryyan Mohd Adeed Sanjay, Emilie Giovanna Ramu, Matahom Karyl Mitzi Higuit, Rachel Ho Yann Shiuan, Sonia Jhala and Peony Wee Ying Ping, all aged 12.
The others are teacher Terrence Sebastian Loo Jian Liang, 29, and an adventure guide engaged by the school, Muhammad Daanish Amran, 22.
All were part of an annual school trip called the Omega Challenge, which is organised by TKPS for school leaders and involves a climb on Mount Kinabalu. As of last night, search-and-rescue efforts were still under way to locate student Navdeep Singh Jaryal Raj Kumar, 13, and TKPS teacher Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed, 35.
The bodies of the deceased were flown home on Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130s yesterday. The body of Peony Wee, which was identified first on Saturday, arrived earlier in the day, while the bodies of the other seven, identified yesterday, were due to arrive last night.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared today a Day of National Remembrance with State flags on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast, and a minute of silence will also be observed at all SEA Games venues at the beginning of the day.
The announcement followed days of anxiety and grief expressed by Singaporeans over the tragedy, hundreds of whom visited the condolence corner set up by TKPS yesterday to leave flowers and messages of encouragement.
Said Mr Lee in a Facebook post: “As we grieve over the loss of these young lives, we also take heart at their striving to stretch their limits and take on new challenges. May this tragic incident strengthen our sense of togetherness, and our resolve to overcome adversity and prevail as one united Singapore.”
His comments were echoed by several other Cabinet ministers, as well as Emeritius Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who visited TKPS. “My heart weeps for them,” he told reporters.
Late last night, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat visited the wake of Peony Wee at her home at Mountbatten, and also received the bodies and some of the returning families of the deceased at Paya Lebar Airbase. “Many of their friends and other family members came too. Even old schoolmates of the parents came to help. It was sombre, but there was also a lot of love and support,” he said. “This is what will help them at this time ... This is how they will remember all the joy their child has brought into their lives.”
The earthquake had struck Sabah on Friday at 7.15am and the latest number of confirmed dead stands at 16, said Malaysian authorities. Five more bodies were only recovered yesterday. Malaysian authorities have sent helicopters and rescue teams since the earthquake happened but efforts have been hampered by badly damaged mountain trails. Apart from the eight from Singapore, the other victims are from Malaysia, China and Japan. Following the earthquake, Malaysian media also reported further tremors. The latest one was yesterday morning at 11.35am around 16km north-west of Ranau, Sabah.
The TKPS trip comprised 29 students and eight teachers. Nineteen students and two teachers were accounted for and returned on Saturday. Of the eight students and two teachers who were initially declared missing, one student was found on Saturday.
Yesterday, four of the survivors — two students and two teachers — returned on air ambulances, and are now receiving medical attention at local hospitals. The MOE said the TKPS student found on Saturday is still receiving medical treatment in Kota Kinabalu, accompanied by two teachers.
Visiting the two injured students at KK Women and Children’s Hospital yesterday evening, Mr Heng said they are recovering well, looked after by a team of specialists and psychologists.
Adding he remained “very anxious” about the missing student and teacher, Mr Heng said the MOE and other government officials from Singapore on the ground are working closely with the Malaysian authorities in the search efforts. Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has spoken to his Malaysian counterpart and the Malaysian authorities on the whole have been very supportive, said Mr Heng.
Earthquakes are considered rare in Malaysia and the last earthquake, which took place in Sabah, was 24 years ago in 1991, registering 5.1 on the Richter scale. The previous one was reportedly in 1966 with a magnitude of 5.3.
Professor Kerry Sieh, director of Earth Observatory of Singapore at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, said that it is “very rare” and Sabah is an “enigmatic place for earthquake” to occur.
Further aftershocks are hard to predict, he said, adding for instance, that chances that there could be a bigger earthquake coming up are 5 per cent. “Nobody can say it’s safe or nobody can say it’s dangerous to go back (to Mount Kinabalu) for sure,” he said.
