4 Filipino climbers safe after strong quake hits Malaysia

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said four Filipino mountaineers were found safe after hundreds of climbers were stranded in Mount Kinabalu following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Malaysia.

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Mary Naomi Gail Angeles Malones, Kenneth Cueto Almonte, Anna Rose Gumantazon Curiano and Michael William Echevarria were able to reach the Kinabalu Park base camp on Friday evening, the embassy said in a statement.

Malones’ father told INQUIRER.net that his daughter sent him a text message saying she was not injured. Malones is in the same group as Almonte and Curiano.

“As of the moment, the Embassy has not received news of any Filipino adversely affected by the earthquake. Nevertheless, we are closely monitoring developments and stands ready to provide assistance,” Vice Consul Francis Herrera said.

An earlier report from the Agence France-Presse said 160 climbers were stranded in Mount Kinabalu.

READ: Quake strands about 160 climbers on Malaysian peak

The embassy said most of those rescued were Malaysians. Among the foreigners rescued were 38 Singaporeans, three British, four Thais, and one each from Turkey, China and Japan.

“Rescue efforts are still ongoing for climbers who may still be trapped. The Embassy is in constant touch with members of the Filipino community regarding their situation after the earthquake,” the statement said.

Editor’s note: Some of the names were corrected based on the information given by Malones’ father.