Sabah quake: Singaporean victim believed to be student on study trip

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean girl who was killed on Mount Kinabalu when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Friday, is believed to be a 12-year-old pupil from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS).

She was on an overseas learning journey organised by the school. A group of 29 pupils and eight teachers went on the trip. Eight pupils and two teachers are still unaccounted for.

Sadri Farick, the father of another TKPS pupil who joined the trip, told The Straits Times that he heard from the Malaysian authorities that "one of the TKPS pupils is not with us anymore".

Reports quoting the Malaysian police and Dr Jamili Nais, director of Sabah Parks, also said a Singaporean was among those killed during the quake. The body of the Singaporean was brought down Mount Kinabalu on Friday evening, together with another deceased, identified as mountain guide Robbi Sappinggi, 30, said media reports.

The Singapore authorities have yet to confirm the death.

The Straits Times understands that the two missing TKPS teachers were Mohammad Ghazi and Terrence Sebastian Loo. Past and present students of the primary school took to social media to pray for their teachers.

The Ministry of Education said it has made arrangements for the families of the missing pupils and teachers to fly to Kota Kinabalu on Saturday. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network