One girl from Tanjong Katong Primary School killed in Sabah quake, confirms Heng Swee Keat
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat speaking to reporters at Changi Airport Terminal 2 today (June 6). Photo: Kelly Ng
SINGAPORE — A girl from Tanjong Katong Primary School has been killed during a school trip to Mount Kinabalu, where a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck yesterday (June 6).
The Ministry of Education (MOE) confirmed the identity of the 12-year-old female retrieved by Malaysian authorities as Wee Ying Ping Peony.
“MOE and other government officials are in Kota Kinabalu, and will provide assistance and support to Peony’s family during this difficult period," MOE said.
Speaking to reporters at Changi Airport where he received 19 students and two teachers from the school who made it back to Singapore safely, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat confirmed the 12-year-old’s demise and said her parents have been informed.
The students who returned are “a bit shaken, but otherwise they are fine,” he said, adding that the ministry has arranged for follow-up care and concern for the children and their family members.
He also expressed anxiety for the remaining six students and two teachers from the school who are still not accounted for.
A team led by the ministry — comprising counsellors, officials from the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Transport Ministry — have arrived Kota Kinabalu in the early afternoon, and search and rescue operations are in full swing, said Mr Heng.
“We are in close touch with the parents who have also flown in with us, to provide support to the parents. Our officials are working very closely with Malaysian authorities, to do our very best to locate the children and teachers who are missing.”
He added that another boy from the school is currently receiving treatment in the hospital at Kota Kinabalu.
Mrs Caroline Wu, principal of TKPS, who was also at the airport to meet students and parents said: "We are thankful to receive the pupils and the teachers back, sound and safe. On the ground, there have been MOE care officers rendering support to the students and teachers, as well as the families...With regard to those who are not accounted for yet, we are doing our utmost best, working with MOE and other ministries to reach out to them."
