A Group Of Naked Tourists Is Being Blamed For A Deadly Earthquake In Malaysia

Malaysia’s government is blaming a group of foreign tourists for causing a deadly earthquake on one of the country’s sacred mountains.

Kinabalu Park / Via Facebook: tamankinabalu

The magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Mount Kinabalu killed at least 13 people on Friday, the Associated Press reported. Authorities are still searching for at least six missing people.

ROSLAN RAHMAN / Getty Images

On Saturday, the deputy chief minister of the state of Sabah told reporter that he believes the earthquake was caused by a group of 10 tourists who stripped naked on the mountain a few weeks ago.

Tan Sri Joseph Pairin said that the earthquake was a “confirmation” that the mountain is sacred, and humanity “cannot take it lightly,” according to the Malay Mail Online.
Pairin said that he planned to bring charges against the five tourists in the group who authorities have identified.

Pairin said he had a feeling something bad was about to happen after he saw a flock of birds outside his home:

At first I didn’t think anything of it, but after it went on for more than half an hour I knew something was not well. I brought it up with my wife and we bought agreed that something bad was going to happen.

The Malay Mail Online / Via themalaymailonline.com

There is almost certainly a connection. We have to take this as a reminder that local beliefs and customs are not to be disrespected.

Another local official Datuk Masidi Manjun told The Malay Mail Online that none of the identified suspects would be allowed to leave the country until their cases were resolved....See More

By Stephanie McNeal, Buzzfeed
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