Earthquake traps climbers on Malaysian mountain

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A Malaysian official says a magnitude-5.9 earthquake has injured 11 climbers on Southeast Asia's highest peak and about 130 people are stranded.

Malaysia's meteorological department says the quake struck northwest of Ranau district in Sabah state on Borneo early Friday at a depth of 34 miles. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake as a magnitude-6.

Sabah Parks director Jamili Nais says two climbers who were injured on Mount Kinabalu have been brought down. Nine more people are believed to be injured among the 137 stranded on the mountain.

CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata says the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia was unable to confirm whether any Americans were believed to be among those on the mountain or affected by the quake.

Their climbing route is apparently blocked or made dangerous by rocks and boulders loosened by the quake and small aftershocks.

The park director said helicopters can't land due to bad weather and the high altitude, but park rangers and mountain guides are trying to help down the climbers.

State Tourism Minister Masidi Manjun said people from nearby villages joined the rescue team to try and reach the climbers.

He tweeted that the strong tremor had damaged climbers' huts and facilities on the mountain, and broke one of the twin rock formations famously known as the "Donkey's Ears" on the mountain.

In a later tweet, he confirmed all the stranded climbers were progressing cautiously toward a midway point on the climbing route called Laban Rata.

Jamili said the rescuers hoped to help all the stranded climbers at least reach that area before nightfall. Laban Rata is a usual resting point for climbers trying to scale the summit and has food available.