Flags at half-mast for quake victims

SINGAPORE: Flags flew at half-mast and the glittering SEA Games paused for a minute of silence yesterday as Singapore mourned the death of eight citizens, including six schoolchildren, in a Malaysian earthquake.

The “day of national remembrance” declared by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took place as the remains of the victims were flown home by military plane from an airport near Mt Kinabalu.

Two other members of their schoolorganised Singaporean climbing party remain missing on Malaysia’s highest mountain. The official overall death toll stands at 16.

Sports venues across Singapore went silent for a minute before the start of competition on the third day of the biennial Southeast Asian Games, which it is hosting ahead of its 50th anniversary of independence in August.

The Singapore flag was flown at halfmast at all government buildings, muting any celebration over the games’ medal tally which put the hosts well ahead of the field with more than 30 golds so far.

The US Embassy also lowered the Stars and Stripes to half-mast in a gesture of solidarity.

“It was sombre, but there was also a lot of love and support,” Education Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote on Facebook early yesterday after meeting family members of victims at a military base.

“Let us show our support for the families and each other,” Mr Heng said.

The victims — six students from the Tanjong Katong Primary School, a teacher and a Singaporean adventure guide — were on an excursion to the popular destination when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday, sending boulders rolling down and unleashing landslides.

Singaporean media reported that one student and the adventure guide were buried yesterday morning in accordance with Muslim funeral rites.

At the victims’ school, which is currently closed for mid-year holidays, Singaporeans arrived to leave messages of condolence and bouquets.

In social media, some people blacked out their pictures or replaced them with a black version of Singapore’s national symbol, a lion’s head.

Prime Minister Lee’s ruling People’s Action Party darkened its red and blue lightning logo on Facebook.

It is the second time flags have flown at half-mast this year, following the death of independence leader Lee Kuan Yew, the father of the current leader, in March.

In Malaysia, parliament observed a minute of silence to remember the Mt Kinabalu victims.