Blue lights over Kinabalu not from man above

Scientists agree that the phenomenon is related to the massive June 5 earthquake that hit the world heritage area.

KOTA KINABALU: Scientists have assured that the blue lights above Mount Kinabalu, the scene of a devastating June 5 earthquake which killed 18 climbers, is not a sign from the man above that he’s still angry over some western tourists going nude on the mountain.

Scientists agree the light was linked with the earthquake, but believe there is a valid explanation, other than a sign from above. The blue rays are known as the “blue rainbow” and are believed to be a phenomenon that is usually associated with areas recently hit by earthquakes.

Local geologists, according to the UK-based Express, describe it as a “blue brushstroke light”.

According to the experts, the generation of this light involves the ionization of oxygen in some types of rocks due to high stress before, during and after earthquake and other seismic activities.

The strange phenomenon in Borneo led to sweeping speculation on social media over what the unusual blue rays were. On social networks several people such as Rina Ripau from a nearby village in Ranau, uploaded images of the rainbow to their Facebook profiles.

Some suggested it was a sign from the gods who locals believed caused the deadly quake after being angered by the 10 western backpackers who stripped off on top of the sacred peak. The group, which included Briton Eleanor Hawkins, then posted pictures to Facebook.

One man posted online: “Does this blue light mean the gods are still angry?”

Another villager told a local newspaper: “The sky was bright as if there was a rainbow, but unlike a rainbow, it was all striking blue. We have not seen anything like this before.”

Although the rainbow only lasts a short while they are a striking blue colour, according to many observers.

The sky was bright as if there was a rainbow, but unlike a rainbow, it was all striking blue. We have not seen anything like this before, wrote a local villager on Facebook

The earthquake took place in Mount Kinabalu and Kinabalu Park, a protected area and world heritage site in Malaysia.