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Malaysia quake traps 160 climbers on Mount Kinabalu | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Rescue operations are under way to reach tourists trapped on one of South East Asia's highest mountains after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck. | Rescue operations are under way to reach tourists trapped on one of South East Asia's highest mountains after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck. |
Around 160 are stranded on Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island, according to the state's tourism minister Masidi Manjun. | |
Mr Masidi said on Twitter that the track was impassable and helicopters could not land due to bad weather. | |
He added that some were injured and tremors had caused boulders to fall. | |
All climbing activity on the mountain has been suspended. | |
Mt Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095-metre (13,435 feet), is a popular destination for climbers from around the world. | |
Via ferrata | |
Mr Masidi said that rescuers were still trying to reach climbers. | |
"Other than ongoing rescue efforts our priority is to send food, drinks and warm clothing to those still stranded at the mountain," he said. | |
He also said there were reports of tourists trapped and injured on the via ferrata climbing route. | |
A via ferrata is a route on a mountain or cliff that has features fixed to the rock which help climbers ascend, such as cables, metal rungs, ladders or bridges. | |
The force of the tremor, which struck earlier on Friday, was so strong it snapped off one of the two "Donkey Ear" rock formations, he said. | The force of the tremor, which struck earlier on Friday, was so strong it snapped off one of the two "Donkey Ear" rock formations, he said. |
One person apparently trapped on the mountain, Charlene Dmp, said on Facebook: "Currently we're waiting for the helicopter to save us. | |
"We cannot go down for now because there are lots of stones falling, there's no safe route down, and there are still tremors. Thank you for all your concern and prayers." | |
'Broken limbs' | |
The New Straits Times cited Sabah Parks as saying they believed that some of the climbers and guides trapped on the mountain were injured. | |
"There are 105 to 109 estimated including climbers, guides and a Sabah Parks officer trapped but this was not on the dangerous area, so we advised them not to move for fear of falling rocks," said parks director Dr Jamili Nais. | |
He said a group of about 40 people were also trapped in another area "where four people suffered injuries such as broken limbs [arm and leg] and head injuries". | He said a group of about 40 people were also trapped in another area "where four people suffered injuries such as broken limbs [arm and leg] and head injuries". |
The Malaysia Insider had earlier reported more than 200 foreign and local climbers were stranded, with 89 unaccounted for, citing the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department. | |
There were no reports of major damage or injuries from the earthquake in other parts of Sabah. | There were no reports of major damage or injuries from the earthquake in other parts of Sabah. |
Have you been affected by the quake in Malaysia? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Have you been affected by the quake in Malaysia? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please remember to leave your phone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
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