KUALA LUMPUR: Around 30 Malaysian climbers are now trapped at the foot of Gunung Rinjani following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake which struck Lombok on Sunday.
The climbers are unable to leave the area as a bridge connecting them to the nearby district collapsed in the quake. An alternative route is also out of the question as the pathway is deemed “too risky.”
The family of Nursakinah Hasman, one of the Malaysian climbers trapped near Gunung Rinjani following an earthquake which struck Lombok, is nevertheless relieved that she is safe.
Nursakinah’s younger sister, Ayu, said their mother grew concerned after learning of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake early Sunday morning.
“Our mother had asked Nursakinah to come home, as soon as she found out about the quake.
“My sister told us that she and her fellow mountaineers were camping at the foothills when the quake occurred,,” she said.
Nursakinah, 38, who is a human resources manager in Petronas, had departed for Lombok on Friday, and was scheduled to return on Tuesday.
She and her team were using the Lombok expedition as part of their training to reach the Everest Base Camp in November.
“She said the group did not even manage to begin their trek up the mountain. They are now seeking shelter at a camp built by villagers in Senaru.
“The climbers as well as the villagers are now hoping for aid from the authorities, as they are anticipating aftershocks,” Ayu told NSTP.
It is understood that Nursakinah is with 29 other Malaysian climbers. They are located around three hours away from the Lombok International Airport.
The group however, are unable to leave the area as the bridge connecting the main pathway collapsed due to the quake.
They are also unable to use the alternative route as it is deemed too risky.
Ayu said she was told by her sister that the group’s food supply can only last them for three days. They are now sharing whatever resources they have with other victims.
The group is also dependent solely on their power banks to charge their handphones as the area’s power supply has been totally cut off.
“Luckily, she brought along three power banks. She’s also switched her phone to power-saving mode.
“We’ve asked her to keep us updated on the latest situation. We also hope that the rest of the climbers will be evacuated from the area as soon as possible,” she said.
Ayu said the families of the Malaysian mountaineers are also liaising with insurance companies to see what form of aid can be rendered in the meantime.
Wisma Putra in a statement said the quake has claimed the life of one Malaysian woman and left six other Malaysians injured.
The Malaysian Embassy inJakarta is working closely with the Indonesian police and National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BNPB) to assist Malaysians affected by the quake.
