More than 130 climbers were 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 US Geological survey said the epicenter of the six-magnitude quake, which struck in the morning, was about 54 km (33 miles) from the state capital of Kotare Kina.
Foreign and domestic hikers flock to Sabah to climb the 4,095-metre (13,435 feet) Mount Kina, where at least 137 people were trapped, the state’s fire and rescue department told Reuters.
So far 52 climbers had made it down safely, Mod Affined Ramming, 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.
