PETALING JAYA: The meteorological department (MetMalaysia) can issue earthquake warnings in eight minutes as it operates a network of 80 seismic sensors nationwide, says its director-general, Hisham Anip.
Hisham said these 80 seismic sensors allow MetMalaysia to effectively detect earthquake activity in Malaysia and the rest of the region.
He also said Malaysia obtains information about earthquakes from various countries which share data from their sensors.
“MetMalaysia also operates 83 tsunami sirens located in areas vulnerable to tsunamis nationwide.
“The Malaysian Tsunami Early Warning System (SAATNM) is capable of delivering earthquake information to the public within eight minutes after it is detected by the sensors,” Bernama quoted him as saying.
SAATNM plays a role in detecting earthquakes occurring in the region and subsequently disseminating information about tremors, including advice or warnings, if they can potentially generate tsunamis.
Yesterday, the US Geological Survey reported that a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at a depth of 10km, with a 6.4 magnitude aftershock hitting the same area.
Tremors were felt in Chiang Mai and Bangkok in Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
At least 1,002 people were killed and nearly 2,400 injured in Myanmar, with about 10 more deaths confirmed in Bangkok
MetMalaysia said yesterday tremors were also felt in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
However, it said there was no tsunami threat in Malaysia.
