According to Malaysian officials, tourists who took pictures of themselves naked on the summit of Mount Kinabalu angered spirits within the mountain, resulting in the 5.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked the mountain and killed 16 climbers on Friday.
Once on the summit, the accused tourists broke away from their climbing group and guide to take the photos that would later show up on social media. The Malay Mail is reporting that the guide immediately reproached those involved and one individual responded by telling the guide to “go to hell.”
According to the AP, five tourists have been restricted from leaving the country due to “gross indecency” allegations.
Mount Kinabalu is a sacred mountain for indigenous people in the region and is considered to be the resting place of their ancestors. While climbing, it’s customary to respect the hallowed ground and proceed with reverence to the top of the mountain.
