At least 11 bodies were recovered from Malaysia's Mount Kinabalu a day after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the area increasing the death toll to 13.
There are currently six climbers who are still missing when rocks and boulders trapped them on the 4,095-meter (13,435-foot)-high mountain in Sabah.
Sixty rescuers and four helicopters searched for a total of 17 people, including eight Singaporeans, a Chinese, a Filipino and a Japanese while the rest of the climbers are Malaysians, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, the nationality of the recovered 11 bodies have yet to be determined.
District police official Farhan Lee Abdullah said that nine of the bodies were flown out by helicopter, while the other two were carried down the mountain.
Two dead bodies were retrieved on Friday and were identified as a 30-year-old local guide and a 12-year-old Singaporean student, Farhan said.
"This is a very sad day for Kinabalu," said Masidi Manjun, Sabah's tourism minister.
Most of the other climbers were able to leave the mountain despite the darkness, wherein one has broken limbs and another one had a coma.
Aside from the incident at the mountain, the earthquake also damaged roads, buildings, schools and a hospital on Sabah's west coast. Even the well-known twin rock formation called the "Donkey's Ears" was damaged, the Daily Progress reported.
As a result of the quake, the mountain will be closed for maintenance in three weeks. Flags are also flown at half-staff in Sabah to mourn the death of the victims.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan said that a group of 10 foreigners posed naked at the peak last week, showing a huge disrespect to the sacred mountain. He even added that in order to "appease the mountain spirit", a special ritual needs to be done.
Said tourists will be charged of gross indecency and will not be allowed to leave the country.
