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Malaysia quake traps climbers on Mount Kinabalu | Malaysia quake traps climbers on Mount Kinabalu |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Scores of climbers face a night stranded on one of South East Asia's highest mountains after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck. | |
Rescue operations are under way on Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island, said the state's tourism minister. | |
But Masidi Manjun said on Twitter that helicopters could not land due to bad weather. | But Masidi Manjun said on Twitter that helicopters could not land due to bad weather. |
The hikers have been told to stay put because of the danger of falling rocks. | |
All climbing activity on the mountain has been suspended. | All climbing activity on the mountain has been suspended. |
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake happened at around 07:15 local time (00:15 BST), at a depth of 10m (32ft). The epicentre was 54km (33 miles) from Mt Kinabalu. | |
Mt Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095m, is popular with climbers from around the world. | |
Many are attracted to the challenging "via ferrata" climbing route, where cables, metal rungs and bridges are set into the rocks on the steep terrain to help people ascend. | Many are attracted to the challenging "via ferrata" climbing route, where cables, metal rungs and bridges are set into the rocks on the steep terrain to help people ascend. |
The force of the tremor, which struck earlier on Friday, was so strong it snapped off one of the two "Donkey Ear" rock formations, Mr Manjun 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, Mr Manjun said. |
'No safe route' | |
The state minister said that rescuers were still trying to reach the 137 climbers trapped on the mountain top, after giving an earlier figure of 160. | |
"Other than ongoing rescue efforts, our priority is to send food, drinks and warm clothing to those still stranded on the mountain," he said. | |
One person apparently trapped, a Facebook user identified as Charlene Dmp, said: "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." | "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." |
Climbing Mt Kinabalu | |
'Broken limbs' | '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. | 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 Jamili Nais. | "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 Jamili Nais. |
"Another group of 40 people from via ferrata area are also trapped, where four people suffered injuries such as broken limbs (arm and leg) and head injuries," he said. | "Another group of 40 people from via ferrata area are also trapped, where four people suffered injuries such as broken limbs (arm and leg) and head injuries," he said. |
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? Are you on or near Mount Kinabalu? 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? Are you on or near Mount Kinabalu? 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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You could also send us pictures on WhatsApp. Our number is: +44 7525 900971. | You could also send us pictures on WhatsApp. Our number is: +44 7525 900971. |
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