Story by Christopher Tan
Photos by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Law Suun Ting
THE ground was shaking, and it was something that I had never felt before.
“I rushed out from the toilet only to see major rockslides occurred a distance away.
“The rockslides formed plumes of dust. We were camping near Tasik Segara Anak on the day the earthquake happened,” assistant information officer Watawa Nataf Zulkifli, 32, told a press conference in Komtar today.
Watawa and his colleague photographer Darwina Mohd Daud, 27, took part in the Mount Rinjani, Lombok trekking expedition on July 26.
The expedition was organised by Projek Hijo, an outdoor and sports group.
Watawa and Darwina worked in the Penang Information Unit of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Reliving the incident, Watawa said he had just finished his breakfast and was in the toilet at 6.45am on July 29 when the earthquake occurred.
“The tremor lasted for almost a minute and there were more than 20 subsequent aftershocks later.
“There were about 400 to 500 hikers in our group, mostly from Thailand and Indonesia. There were only five Malaysians, including Darwina and I,” he said.
Watawa said the group was told to pack up quickly and leave for a safer ground, fearing the eruption of Tasik Segara Anak.
Tasik Segara Anak is a crater lake, situated next to Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island.
“We headed to a valley between Mount Rinjani and Mount Sangkareang at 8am on July 29 and we spent a night there.
“We were worried that we might be stranded on the volcanic mountain for a long time. We were also concerned that our families would be worried about our safety,” he said.
He added that the group decided to ration food on July 29.
“Lunch was not provided, and we shared instant noodles for dinner,” he said.
Watawa said the rockslides had cut off two out of the three escape routes.
“The routes via the Torean village and Senaru were blocked. We had to hike back to Pelawangan (where we came from),” he said.
The group eventually arrived Pelawangan and made it to Sembalun at 5.30pm local time on July 30. Sembalun was the gathering point for the rescued victims.
Watawa said he was grateful to everyone who had rescued them and provided them the necessary assistance to return to Malaysia safely.
Watawa and Darwina arrived at the Penang International Airport at 5.30pm on July 31.
State Information Unit communications director Yap Lee Ying thanked Wisma Putra, the Embassy of Malaysia in Jakarta, AirAsia Group Berhad chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state Secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus and the family members of Watawa and Darwina for their help and cooperation.
Chow advised Penangites to be alert and be careful when visiting risky areas.
“Have a good rest before coming back to work,” he told Watawa and Darwina.
