KOTA KINABALU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Things are looking up for mountain guide Hasnin Kasim as donations trickle in after he lost his job and home following the Mount Kinabalu earthquake.

The Mountain Guides Association came forward to give his family RM5,000 (S$1,782) on June 16, while Ranau MP Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin also chipped in some money to help them tide over the most difficult period of his life.

"At least we have some money for food and daily essentials with the money received," said the 43-year-old father of seven, adding that it was a relief to know that many kind hearted people from all over the world were donating to help mountain guides of Kinabalu.

Hasnin said the June 5 quake had also resulted in the closure of Mount Kinabalu, their main source of income whereas the aftermath of it - mudslides and landslips - damaged people's houses.

"We as guides depend on climbers and the mountain to survive, without them, we are doomed," he said.

Hasnin, whose house is almost falling off following the June 17 mudflood, is currently staying at his sister-in-law's house in nearby Kg. Cinta Mata.

"We don't have money to rebuild our house yet but will try to come up with ways as soon as we can," he said.

Hasnin's house is among the dozens that are at risk of being washed away or destroyed if another major surge of mudslides carrying large boulders and mountain debris at the foothills of the mountain occurs.

A house was reported to have collapsed following the mudslides but no casualties were reported as firemen had evacuated all villagers at the area a day earlier.