KUNDASANG (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Five more body bags are
waiting to be airlifted from the Paka Shelter at Mount Kinabalu's
3,052m mark, with helicopters on standby to pick up the badly
mutilated remains.
The remains are believed to be those of the last six missing
people, and are badly mutilated and in pieces after being crushed
by huge boulders and falling rocks around the Via Ferrata trail of
the mountain.
Sources have said they have five bags, adding that they do not know
how many victims the bags contain until a post-mortem is conducted,
as some of the bodies were recovered in parts.
"We have to look at the weather conditions at the mountain before
the green light can be given for helicopters to go in," said rescue
officials on the ground.
They added that it was not easy for helicopters to land on Mount
Kinabalu as the weather changes constantly with thick clouds and
strong winds.
Of the 19 who were killed in Friday's earthquake, 13 bodies have
been recovered since then.
They have said that it is unlikely there are any survivors from the
massive rock fall following the earthquake at the western face of
Mount Kinabalu.
Earlier Sunday morning, Sabah Fire and Rescue Department director
Nordin Pauzi said that they hoped to find and recover all 19
victims by Sunday evening.
Mr Pauzi said the Fire and Rescue Department was fully mobilising
its manpower including the use of helicopters.
