*Update: One of the eight Tanjong Katong Primary School students reported missing at Mount Kinabalu has been found, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean confirmed this afternoon. He is reportedly receiving medical treatment now.
The other seven students and two teachers are still unaccounted for.
SINGAPORE - Malaysian officials have confirmed that the body of a 12-year-old Singaporean girl has been found in Mount Kinabalu, The New Paper (TNP) reported on Saturday morning.
The girl was reported to be among two bodies brought down from the mountain after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Sabah on Friday. The other body belonged to a local mountain guide Robi Sapinggi, 30.
While Singapore authorities have yet to confirm the death, DPM Teo confirmed that the dead girl found is believed to be a Singaporean student. "We pray for all the families and students and their two teachers. Our agencies have been in touch with our Malaysian counterparts who're making every effort to assist," he said.
According to TNP, the girl was among a group of 29 Tanjong Katong Primary School students and eight teachers. A parent of one of the students told TNP that they were there for a student leaders' outing called the Omega Challenge.
Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat said on his Facebook page that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is in touch with the families of students and teachers who went on the trip, and arrangements have been made for the parents of the children to travel to Kota Kinabalu today.
"Our hearts and thoughts are with the families of the students and staff of Tanjong Katong Primary School. 8 students and 2 teachers are still unaccounted for. We will do all we can to find the missing students and teachers in Mount Kinabalu, in the aftermath of today’s earthquake," Mr Heng said.
DPM said in a Facebook post that MOE officials, counsellors, and Home Team medical and liaison officers will also be making the trip.
TNP also reported that a total of 58 students and eight teachers from Greenridge Secondary School and Fuchun Secondary School returned to Singapore from Sabah early this morning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Friday night that there were more than 100 registered Singaporeans in Sabah at the time of the earthquake. The majority of those registered have been contacted and are safe, MFA said.
"We are doing our best to reach the Singaporeans who remain uncontactable at this point in time. MFA has also despatched a Crisis Response Team (CRT) to Sabah this afternoon to provide consular assistance to our Singaporeans," a spokesperson for MFA added.
Singaporeans who know of any loved ones and friends in Sabah that may require consular assistance can contact the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur at +60-16-661 0400 or singhc_kul@sgmfa.gov.sg. Alternatively, they may contact the MFA Duty Officer (24-hours) at 6379 8800 / 8855 or mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg.
AsiaOne has contacted MFA and MOE for more information. Check back for updates.