The twin peak landmark resembling a pair of donkey's ears has been badly damaged, with the top of one of the peaks falling off in the 7.17am tremors.
"Bad news confirmed! Part of the iconic 'Donkey's Ear' at Mount Kinabalu is gone due to strong tremor this morning," tweeted Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Masidi also tweeted that rescue operations at Mount Kinabalu were underway following reports of climbers being trapped and injured on the mountain.
Sabah Parks chairman Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin also acknowledged the damage to the Donkey's Ear.
"That is what I am hearing," he said, when asked about the landmark.
Adlin said that assistance from the Royal Malaysian Air Force and private firms for helicopters was being sought to rescue the climbers.
"We are doing all we can. We are prepared but the problem is availability of helicopters,’’ he said.
The strong quake reportedly struck at a depth of 10km, with its epicentre located 19km from the town of Ranau, and 54km from Kota Kinabalu.
The US Geological Survey put the Richter scale at 6 but no tsunami warning was issued.
People at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu have reported rockfalls and landslips and officials are waiting for the situation to settle before determining the next course of action.
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