An Australian woman was reported to have fallen while hiking down Mount Santubong on Thursday evening.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) identified the victim as Belinda Lapier, who reportedly slipped while descending from the mountain summit.
According to JBPM Sarawak, an emergency call was received at 8.20pm, with rescue teams arriving at the scene at approximately 9.43pm before initiating a search and rescue (SAR) operation.
In a statement on Friday morning, JBPM said firefighters and park rangers moved towards the last known location where the victim had made contact. Despite obstacles along the route, rescuers were able to maintain communication with her.
“The victim informed us that she is safe but is facing difficulty exiting the area,” the statement said, indicating that she remained conscious and responsive.
Authorities noted that reaching her location proved challenging due to difficult terrain, including large rocks, fallen trees and limited visibility caused by darkness.
The SAR operation was temporarily suspended at 3.30am due to safety concerns and is scheduled to resume in the morning as teams continue efforts to reach and evacuate the victim.
