Canadians who allegedly posed naked on Mount Kinabalu barred from leaving Malaysia

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it's assisting two Canadians barred from leaving Malaysia amid reports the pair could be charged after allegedly posing naked atop the country's highest peak.

• Malaysia Mount Kinabalu earthquake: 13 dead, 6 missing

It wouldn't confirm the identity of the Canadians, citing privacy concerns, but Malaysia's foreign affairs ministry identified them as Lindsey Petersen and his sister Danielle Petersen of Saskatchewan. 

On Friday an earthquake sent rocks and boulders raining down the trekking routes on Mount Kinabalu in Sabah state on Borneo island.

A search for six missing climbers continued yesterday, after rescuers recovered 13 dead.

Sabah's deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan blamed the tragedy on 10 foreigners — including two Canadians — who "showed disrespect to the sacred mountain" by posing naked at the peak on May 30.

The foreigners, who included the two Canadians, as well as two Dutch and a German national, broke away from their entourage and stripped naked before taking photos at the mountain peak on May 30, officials have said.

Local media reported that the Canadians could face charges in a native court for allegedly violating local laws.