SEMPORNA: Some 700 local and international tourists on several islands off here were ordered to return to the mainland following the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao, Philippines, on Monday morning.
Tremors of the earthquake that struck at 7.37am near Koronadal City were felt in some parts of Semporna.
A check at the Semporna Tourism Jetty found that boat operators, resort staff and guides were busy relaying safety instructions and coordinating the tourists’ return to the mainland.
The tourists who were staying at Pulau Mataking, Pulau Pom Pom, Pulau Mabul and Pulau Bohey Dulang were briefed on the situation and advised to leave the islands until the authorities confirmed the situations were stable and safe.
Meanwhile, a private sector worker in Tawau, Hamzah Sainudin, 42, said the tremors were felt for about 10 seconds while he was at the Seafest Jetty at 7.40am.
“At the time of the incident, I was waiting with a friend at the jetty to go to Mabul Island for work. At 8.40, I boarded a boat to go to the island, and before that stopped at Kampung Bangau-Bangau Tourist Jetty. The sea conditions at that time were quite rough.
“Upon arriving at the tourist jetty, we were advised by the Fire Department not to go to the island due to safety factors following the earthquake tremors and the expected tsunami,” he said.
Hamzah said after that, the boat was taken back to the mainland in Semporna.
A resident of Kampung Bugaya, Anas Mulpi, 28, said he also felt the tremors for about four seconds while doing maintenance work.
“At that time, I was climbing the stairs to repair the ceiling at a premises in Semporna after the tremors, the siren sounded,” he said.
