Kinabalu climbs suspended

KOTA KINABALU  Mount Kinabalu has been closed to climbers for three weeks, following the 5 June earthquake that triggered deadly avalanches that killed 18 climbers.
Sabah Parks announced, yesterday, that mountain activities would be suspended for at least three weeks.
This includes Kinabalu Natural History Gallery, Poring Hot Springs (canopy walk), Butterfly Farm, Kipungit Waterfall and Langanan Waterfall will be closed to visitors with immediate effect.
The initial tremors occurred in the early hours of 5 June, when climbers had just reached the peak to watch the sunrise.
inside no 7The epicentre of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake was located 16 km northwest of Ranau. Tremors were felt at Kudat on the north, Kota Marudu, and in Beaufort, south of the capital city.
According to Sabah government statements, the mountain trail leading to the summit collapsed and disappeared.
At the time of the earthquake and subsequent avalanches 138 tourists and mountain guides had to be rescued from the mountain slopes.
The Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment reported that the three weeks closure would enable repairs and restoration of the trails and mountain accommodation at Laban Rata and Gunting Lagadan located at 3,273 metres above sea level.
All tourism activities in Sabah, other than the mountain climbing, are operating normally and open to visitors.
A Music Festival held at the northern most tip of Borneo, last weekend, performed to a record crowd, tourism officials said.
Kota Kinabalu is the host city for the JCI Asia Pacific Conference, 11 to 14 June, this week, with more than 3,000 JCI members visiting Sabah’s state capital.
The annual Dragon boat Race by the Federation of Chinese Association Sabah (FCAS) will be held this weekend (13 to 14 June).
On Thursday 18 June, Muslims, worldwide, including in Sabah, begin to observe the holy month of Ramadan, fasting from dawn to sunset. During this period there will be many food stalls selling foods and desserts for the breaking of the daily Fasts.

sourced:ttrweekly.com