According to initial reports coming out of the Malaysian media, two climbers are dead and 11 others remain injured after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu yesterday.
Since the earthquake, 137 climbers remain on the 13,434 ft mountain and are reportedly making their way down to safety. Earlier attempts to provide helicopter rescue proved futile as weather shut down airborne rescue operations.
The earthquake, which struck 54km away from the peak, was strong enough to destroy one of the iconic “Donkey Ears” peaks on the Kinabalu summit. The peak, which is famous as a “via ferrata” climbing route, attracts climbers worldwide and normally takes two days to summit.
Rescue efforts are ongoing at this time.
