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IN PHOTO: Mount Kinabalu appears through the clouds over Kota Kinabalu, capital of the east Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, in this March 8, 2002 aerial photograph. Known as "aki nabalu" or "home of the spirits of the dead" to the Kadazan Dusun locals, Kinabalu is Southeast Asia's highest mountain, standing at 4,095 metres (13,432 feet). Picture taken March 8. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad

A devastating earthquake rocked Mount Kinabalu killing 13 people and the locals are attributing it to angry spirits. Local tribesman and deputy chief minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan have blamed European tourists, who stripped naked on the mountain top, angering the mountain spirits. The tourists have been detained and embassy counselling has been provided for them.

Local Sabahans who live at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu believe that that the mountain is sacred and is the abode of the spirits of their ancestors. The disrespectful act of the tourists has been condemned by the local people. Their leader, the Huguon Siou, has called for the culprits to be charged before local courts. In a press conference, Pairin condemned the disrespectful act and said, “Whether other people believe this or not, it’s what we Sabahans believe. When the earthquake happened, it’s like a confirmation of our beliefs,” reports Malay Mail

Pairin felt something bad was going to happen when he saw a flock of sparrows circling around the house. He considers this as a bad omen after which the earthquake struck. A group of 10 Europeans are said to have broken from their group to take the offensive photographs. They were reprimanded by the guide and allegedly told him to “go to hell.” The state police commissioner said that the tourists would be charged for gross indecency and bared from leaving the country, reports NBC News.

The locals plan to hold a cleansing ritual to appease the spirits. They believe that this would ensure the safety of future climbers. The earthquake, which measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, claimed 11 lives. Eight others are still missing.

Enraged locals are taking action to ban the tourists from entering Malaysia. The Deputy Minister also informed the reporters that it was not viable to question every tourist while visiting the mountain. He felt that it would be important to trust that the tourists would be sensitive to local customs and traditions.

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