Naked posers detained, blamed for earthquake in Malaysia


A Malaysian government official blames four Westerners for causing an earthquake last Friday after they posed naked on top of Mount Kinabalu, CBS News reports.

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake hit Sabah on Borneo Island and killed 18 mountain climbers. It caused damage to roads, buildings and schools on the west coast of Sabah, according to The Associated Press.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Joseph Pairin Kitigan, said the Westerners showed “disrespect to the sacred mountain” when they posed naked at the peak just days before the earthquake.

Kitigan said a ritual will be held to “appease the mountain spirits” that were angered, according to AP.

According to Malaysian police, two Canadian siblings and a Dutch male turned themselves in to local authorities  Tuesday evening. A British woman was also arrested earlier that day at a Sabah airport.

It is believed the four Westerners allegedly joined a group of 10 people who decided to strip naked and take photos at Mount Kinabalu on May 30.

Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry identified the Canadians as Lindsey Petersen and Danielle Petersen, according to The Associated Press.

Read the full story at cbsnews.com

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