A TRAGIC landslide early this morning claimed the life of a mother in Kampung Lok Bonu, Sepanggar, Sabah, just after she had finished her pre-dawn meal (sahur).
The landslide struck around 4 a.m., burying 53-year-old Sitti Harija Norulla under rubble and debris when their house was engulfed by the disaster, a local Malay daily reported.
The untimely death of Sitti Harija has left the community in shock, and residents are mourning the loss of a beloved neighbor and family member.
The victim's son, 39-year-old Al, was at work at a nearby factory when the incident occurred. He shared his account of the tragic event, telling Metro that his mother and younger brother, 25-year-old Zulkiman, had just finished their sahur when they heard a loud noise.
"My brother said he stepped outside to check, and suddenly there was a tremor," Al recounted. "He tried to pull my mother's hand to escape, but the tremor was too strong, and he was thrown aside. Our house had already shifted several meters from its original position."
Al explained that he was soon contacted about the incident and rushed home to search for his mother.
"I joined the villagers in the search, and we eventually found her buried under the landslide," he said, his voice heavy with grief. Despite efforts from Al and the villagers to rescue his mother, the rescue was extremely difficult due to the extent of the destruction.
The fire and rescue team was quick to respond to the emergency call made at 4:32 a.m. Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue Station Chief Ordine Gilu confirmed that 11 firefighters were dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, the team found that a massive landslide had buried a house, and two people were involved in the incident. "One of the victims, a 53-year-old woman, was confirmed dead at the scene. The other victim survived without injuries," Gilu stated.
The tragic event has deeply shaken the community as locals continue to offer their support to the affected family. The landslide occurred just as Muslims in Malaysia began their month-long Ramadan fast on Sunday, adding to the solemnity of the loss. – March 5, 2025
