An earthquake has injured 11 climbers on southeast Asia’s highest peak and about 130 people are stranded, officials say.

Malaysia’s meteorological department said the magnitude-5.9 quake struck northwest of Ranau district in Sabah state on Borneo at a depth of 55 kilometres.

Sabah Parks director Jamili Nais said two climbers who were injured on Mount Kinabalu have been brought down. Nine more people are believed to be injured among the 137 stranded on the mountain.

Their climbing route was apparently blocked or made dangerous by rocks and boulders loosened by the quake and small aftershocks.

The park director said helicopters cannot land due to bad weather and the high altitude, but park rangers and mountain guides are trying to help the climbers down.

Ranau has experienced several weak quakes in recent years. The meteorological department said Sabah has several active fault lines that result in occasional earthquakes.

State Tourism Minister Masidi Manjun said people from nearby villages joined the rescue team to try to reach the climbers.

He tweeted that the strong tremor had damaged climbers’ huts and facilities on the 4,095-metre peak, and broke one of the twin rock formations famously known as the “Donkey’s Ears”.