DHAKA: Rescue operations are underway to reach tourists trapped on one of South East Asia’s highest mountains after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck.

Around 160 are stranded, some injured, on Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island, said the state’s tourism minister.

Masidi Manjun said on Twitter that the track was impassable and helicopters could not land due to bad weather, reports the BBC.

All climbers have been told to stay put because of the danger of falling rocks.

All climbing activity on the mountain has been suspended.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake happened around 07:15 local time (00:15 BST), at a depth of 10m (32ft). The epicentre was 54km (33 miles) from Mt Kinabalu.

Mt Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095-metres, is popular with climbers from around the world.

Many are attracted to the challenging via ferrata climbing route, where cables, metal rungs and bridges are set into the rocks on the steep terrain to help people ascend.

BDST: 1612 HRS, JUN 5, 2015
BD/RS