11 dead, 8 missing after quake jolts Malaysia peak

A strong earthquake that jolted Malaysia's Mount Kinabalu killed at least 11 people and left another 8 missing, an official said today, as authorities searched for survivors on Southeast Asia's highest peak.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck early yesterday near the picturesque mountain, a popular tourist destination, sending landslides and huge granite boulders tumbling down from the 4,095-metre peak's wide, craggy crown.
"From Kinabalu park management, I want to express my condolences to the families of the victims," said Masidi Manjun, tourism minister for the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, as he announced the toll at the mountain park's headquarters.

Masidi said authorities could not yet confirm the identities of the dead and missing.
The Star newspaper later quoted unnamed search and rescue officials saying the final death toll could rise as high as 19 but there was no immediate confirmation of that figure.
The reports said the dead included members of a Singapore primary school group on an excursion to the peak, including a 12-year-old girl who was killed, as well as a local Malaysian climbing guide.

"It's very sad. The Singapore children were so happy when they arrived here, but now..." Masidi said, trailing off as he shook his head.

Rescuers earlier today finished escorting down to safety 137 hikers who were stuck on the mountain for up to 18 hours after the quake damaged a key trail and they faced the threat of continuing rockfalls.
Crews and officials engaged in further search and rescue efforts were kept on edge, however, by aftershocks including a Saturday afternoon temblor that Malaysian officials rated at 4.5-magnitude.
It staff and journalists scurrying out of the park's headquarters.
Reports said most people on the mountain when the quake hit were Malaysian but that they also included hikers from Singapore, the United States, the Philippines, Britain, Thailand, Turkey, China and Japan.

Authorities have not provided details on injuries suffered by climbers.
Major earthquakes are rare in Malaysia and the tremor was one of the strongest in decades, jolting a wide area of Sabah and sending people fleeing outdoors.
But there have been no reports of major damage, nor any casualties outside of those on the mountain.