A total of 155 climbers were safely evacuated from Mount Kinabalu on the morning of July 10, 2025, after a flash flood struck the upper part of the summit trail during a sudden early morning downpour.
The incident took place between the 7 and 7.3-kilometre mark, a high-altitude stretch near the summit, where fast-moving water briefly flooded the trail.
By that time, many climbers who had started their climb earlier that morning were already on their way back down when conditions suddenly worsened.
Climbers Cross Fast-Flowing Water With Rope Assistance
According to NST, it started raining heavily just after 6:15 a.m. near the summit.
The downpour quickly turned into a strong rush of water, flowing from higher ground and sweeping across a steep part of the mountain trail around the 7km mark.
This sudden overflow created dangerous conditions for climbers descending at that time. Rescue personnel from Sabah Parks’ Search and Rescue (SAR) team, MOSAR, and trained mountain guides responded swiftly.
They assessed the situation and used pre-installed safety ropes to guide climbers across the fast-moving water.
By 7:48 a.m., all climbers had successfully cleared the hazard zone without injury.
Eye-Witness: “The Water Was Fast”
According to Sinar Harian, Mountain guide Richard Soibi, who was on duty during the incident, described how quickly the situation changed due to the rain.
“I went up today, and indeed, the rain fell heavily and suddenly. A flash flood occurred near Sayat-Sayat, around KM7.3. The water was fast-flowing across the trail, and there was a risk of climbers being swept away.”
Despite the conditions, he confirmed that everyone stayed calm, and all climbers were safely escorted down.
Light rain continued until 3:00 p.m., with strong winds lingering well into the afternoon.
Flash Flood Triggered by Sudden Weather Shift
Climbers had started their summit attempt earlier that morning at 3:26 a.m., following standard safety protocols.
Sabah Parks conducted its regular weather assessment between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m., and conditions were deemed clear for climbing at the time.
However, roughly three hours later, the weather shifted rapidly. Skies that were stable during the early checks gave way to intense rainfall, which in turn triggered the flooding across the upper trail.
This kind of sudden weather change, while rare, is not unusual in high-altitude environments like Kinabalu, according to park authorities.
Safety Measures in Place, but Climate Raises Concerns
Sabah Parks acknowledged that flash floods are a natural part of mountain weather, especially during heavy rain. They emphasized that safety procedures, like early weather checks and trail closures, are always in place.
Climbers are also reminded to stay calm and follow their guides during any emergency.
The incident has also raised concerns about unpredictable weather, with growing calls to strengthen early-warning systems and improve safety precautions.
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