A strong earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck off the eastern coast of Malaysia on Monday morning, near Sabah on the island of Borneo.
Tremors were also reportedly felt by some residents in Singapore. The quake is considered the most powerful to hit Malaysia in 11 years, though authorities confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued.
In a statement, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said it is closely monitoring developments, noting that shaking was felt along Sabah’s west coast and in several areas of the neighboring state of Sarawak.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Fire and Rescue Operations Center confirmed that no injuries, accidents, or property damage had been reported. Emergency teams remain on patrol across the region to ensure public safety and maintain readiness, reports Al-Rai.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was located less than 100 kilometers northeast of Kota Kinabalu, at a depth of approximately 619.8 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface.
Experts explained that the significant depth of the quake greatly reduced the risk of casualties or serious structural damage, and its characteristics do not indicate any potential for a tsunami.
