Powerful deep earthquake hits Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia)

Strong earthquake tremors were experienced in Malaysia between Sunday and Monday. According to American seismologists, the quake struck near the Malaysian state of Sabah on Monday morning, originating from the Borneo Island region. The earthquake was reported to have a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was located about 100km from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the coastal state, at a depth of approximately 619.8km. Because the quake occurred so deep underground, experts believe the risk of significant damage or loss of life is lower despite its strong magnitude. The earthquake took place at 10:27 am Indian time.

Following the tremor, there were initial concerns about a possible tsunami in nearby coastal areas. However, the US Tsunami Warning Center did not issue any warnings, explaining that the earthquake’s great depth makes a tsunami unlikely. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.8 and reported that tremors were felt across several areas along the west coast of Sabah as well as in Sarawak. In all, authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely, and emergency services have been placed on alert as a precaution.