KUNDASANG (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A Malaysian doctor, who managed to return to the Mount Kinabalu base camp, has confirmed that at least one person died and two others injured following the earthquake.

Pahang-based Dr Rezlan Abdul Rahman, who was descending from the mountain, said one woman was dead after he felt her pulse.

"Two other women with her were also injured.

"They were still at Laban Rata as we proceeded to come down,'' he said, referring to a camp on Kinabalu.

Dr Rezlan said he was told that the three women were on the ropes when the quake hit, and the ropes came loose from the mountain.

"They were apparently swung out before hitting back to the mountain," he added.

Initial reports indicated that at least five were killed or injured.

The Malaysian Meteorological Services Department said the 5.9 magnitude quake struck 16km northwest of Ranau at 7.17am on Friday.

The US Geological Survey put the Richter scale at 6. No tsunami warning was issued.