PUTRAJAYA: A dream get away among ex-classmates quickly turned into a nightmare for How Yun Lan and Ong Lee Jye.
The two women were among 22 Malaysians who were caught in the earthquake which struck the Tiu Kelep Senaru Waterfall in Lombok.
The quake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, shook East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, at 2.07pm on Sunday.
“It occurred in the blink of an eye. When the rocks started crashing, we were terrified. I felt I was both alive and in hell,” How recalled.
She said all of them were just about to leave the waterfall, when all hell broke loose.
She said that Sin Chew Daily deputy executive editor-in-chief Datin Tai Siew Kim collapsed after a boulder fell on her and Lim Sai Wah had her leg pinned under a rock, when the first temblor struck the waterfall.
“Lim was still alive after the second quake, she was still waving her hand for help.
“They tried to help her but it was too late, she had lost so much lood,” said a still traumatised How.
Ong meanwhile said that Tai and Lim were among a group of six Malaysians who were taking pictures together when the quake struck.
“They were taking pictures when there was a loud crash. Then the rocks started to come loose and began crashing, all of us panicked.
“Some of us ran, others dived to take cover,” she recalled.
“Lombok may be beautiful but I don’t ever want to go back,” said the 56-year-old.
Ong and How were part of a 20 strong Malaysian tour group who were at the waterfalls. They had also been students SRJK(C) Jementah, Johor.
Meanwhile a traumatised S. Malarvili, 43, said she felt the aftershocks of the quake at the nearby Pulau Nuang.
She was on a fishing trip with her husband.
“I just can’t wait to get back to my children,” she said trying to hold back her tears.
All three Malaysians were speaking to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) on their arrival from Lombok.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry’s bilateral affairs deputy secretary-general, Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said all Malaysians in Lombok had been accounted for.
He said another four Malaysians are still seeking treatment at the Mataram District General Hospital for various injuries sustained during the earthquake.
The remains of both Tai and Lim arrived on a Garuda flight via Jakarta about 5.10pm.
