7 children, 2 teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary still missing in quake-hit Sabah
SINGAPORE — A 12-year-old male student of Tanjong Katong Primary School, one of the eight schoolchildren unaccounted for after yesterday's deadly earthquake in Sabah, has been found, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) in a release sent at 12.20 today (June 6). He is now receiving medical treatment in Kota Kinabalu.
Search and rescue efforts by the Malaysian authorities continue for the remaining missing seven students and two teachers. MOE said that its officials are in constant contact with the Malaysian authorities to render any assistance required.
They were among a total of 29 students and eight teachers from TKPS on the excursion. The others had been accounted for.
Out of the 21 students and six teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School who had been accounted for, 19 students and two teachers will be returning to Singapore this afternoon.
Two students and one teacher, who require more medical attention will be returning on air ambulances later today, while the three other teachers will remain in Kota Kinabalu to continue working with the onsite team and to look for the remaining students.
The parents of the schoolchildren, unaccounted for after yesterday's deadly earthquake in Sabah, are being flown to Kota Kinabalu by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said this morning.
“The parents accompanied by MOE officers and counsellors, and Home Team medical and liaison officers are being flown there by RSAF this morning,” wrote Mr Teo on Facebook.
Father of one of the missing Tanjong Katong Primary School students bound for Sabah, Mr James Ho, said he and his wife are "distraught" after reading news reports that a 12-year-old Singaporean girl has been found dead.
Asked if he received any updates about his daughter's whereabouts, Mr Ho said: "No. We met with Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday and are now waiting at the Paya Lebar airport, on our way to Sabah...after the interviews with (the media yesterday), things moved a lot faster."
A Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesperson said in a statement this morning that the Ministry is leading a team — comprising of counsellors, officials from the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Transport Ministry — to Kota Kinabalu on a RSAF C-130 aircraft.
“Family members of students and teachers of Tanjong Katong Primary School are also on the same flight,” MOE said
It added that arrangements are being made for the students and teachers of Tanjong Katong Primary School who have been accounted for to return home.
After sending the parents off from Paya Lebar airbase, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said in a Facebook post: "I feel the same anguish. It is a very difficult time for the families and for all of us. Let us all be strong together."
Fifty-eight students and eight teachers from Fuchun Secondary and Greenridge Secondary who were also on Mount Kinabalu when the quake hit had arrived at Changi Airport after midnight yesterday.
