News Digest

130 climbers left stranded on mountain as earthquake strikes Sabah, Malaysia

More than 130 climbers were left stranded on one of Southeast Asia’s highest mountains on Friday after an earthquake rocked parts of the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, a rescue official said. There had been some injuries and media reported one or two people may have been killed, but there was no official confirmation. The U.S. Geological survey said the epicentre of the six-magnitude quake, which struck in the morning, was about 54 km from the state capital of Kota Kinabalu. Foreign and domestic hikers flock to Sabah to climb the 4,095-metre Mount Kinabalu, where at least 137 people were trapped, the state’s fire and rescue department told Reuters.

There was a small landslide that cut off access through the usual route up the mountain. Because of this, some people are stuck there and cannot come down. …They are waiting to be rescued.

Mohd Affendy Ramin, Sabah Fire and Rescue

So far 52 climbers had made it down safely, Mohd Affendy Ramin, the public relations officer for Sabah Fire and Rescue department, said. Climbers from 16 countries had been on the peak, including 117 Malaysians, 38 Singaporeans, five Americans, four Dutch, three British, two French and two Australians, he said. There were also tourists from Belgium, Thailand, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, India, New Zealand, South Korea, Denmark and China. Officials said, and media pictures showed, that the mountain’s landmark Donkey’s Ears twin peaks had been badly damaged in the quake. Media had reported one or two deaths in the quake and an official said there had been rumours of five to 10, but none has been confirmed.