A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia early Friday, killing two people, injuring 11, and stranding 137 climbers on the peak of 13,435-foot Mount Kinabalu, .
The epicenter of the quake was near the town of Ranau, several miles southwest of the mountain, . The AP reports that the initial tremors and aftershocks shook loose rocks that blocked the route, preventing the climbers from getting down. Lee Yoke Fah of Kuala Lumpur and his wife were descending when the earthquake hit. 鈥淩ocks [from the top of the mountain] were raining down fast, like rock blasting,鈥 , the Malaysian national news agency.
聽that the climbers, aided by park rangers and guides, are now making their way down the south side of the mountain to the Laban Rata climber鈥檚 hut. Jamili Nais, parks director for the island鈥檚 state of Sabah, told the AP that some climbers were expected back at base camp by Saturday morning. Nais also said that some climbers injured in the earthquake had been brought down from Kinabalu, but helicopters couldn鈥檛 land to assist evacuation due to the high altitude and fog. They鈥檙e instead hoping to drop supplies and warm clothes to the climbers, .
Sabah鈥檚 police chief confirmed that there were two deaths聽but didn鈥檛 give further details on the victims鈥 identities. However, local media outlets, including聽, are reporting that rescuers recovered the bodies of who they believe to be a local guide and a female tourist from Singapore.