KOTA KINABALU: Dozens of climbers were temporarily stranded, while others had to brave strong torrents of water flowing down Mount Kinabalu following heavy downpours early Thursday (July 10).
Those who had reached the summit earlier were forced to navigate river-like currents during their descent. Meanwhile, climbers who began their ascent later from the Panalaban hut were stopped at the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint as the rain showed no signs of letting up.
According to sources along the mountain trail, many late climbers had to postpone their ascent due to the weather. By around 3.30am, most chose to turn back from Sayat-Sayat when it became clear that the downpour would persist.
Those descending from the summit eventually made it safely to the Laban Rata resthouse by around 6am. Climbers typically begin their ascent to the peak at around 2am.
Viral videos shared online showed several groups of climbers clinging to ropes and moving in single file at about 5am, with rainwater streaming down the trail beneath their feet. Each group was guided from the front and rear by mountain guides to ensure safe footing.
Thunderstorm warnings for various parts of Sabah had been issued as early as 1.50am on Thursday.
A specific alert for areas including Kota Belud, which is adjacent to Kundasang where Mount Kinabalu is located, was posted on the MetMalaysia social media page at 3am.
