SINGAPORE – About 12 to 15 students and five teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) were on the mountain trail when the earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu on Friday morning (June 5), the second day of their trip.

In a briefing today, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said based on accounts from the students and teachers on the trip, 24 students and eight teachers began their trek at around 4.30am to 5.30am. Five students stayed behind at the rest hut as they were feeling ill.

The students on the trek were divided into five groups. Three groups were already attempting a 430m route on the Via Ferrata known as the Walk The Torq route at about 7am when the earthquake occurred at 7.15am. The remaining two groups were waiting for their turn.

MOE officials said it is believed that the deceased students, teacher and guide were mainly those from the three groups that had started on the route. The students in the remaining two groups huddled as teachers tried to shield the students when the earthquake happened.

The Walk The Torq route is designed for kids at least 10 years old and 1.3m tall. Students wore safety harnesses and helmets when they made their climb.

It is understood that as the mist sets in as early as 8am, trekkers would start on this route before dawn.

The MOE also said TKPS has been organising such activities to Mount Kinabalu for seven years, and seven out of the eight teachers who were on the trip have conducted such activities several times .

The students had also undergone three months of training prior to the trip , including climbing stairs and completing runs.

Many schools have also made such trips in past years and there have been no reported accident thus far.