THE earthquake that struck off the coast of Sabah early Monday is the strongest to hit the country in 11 years.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) Director-General Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said based on the department’s records, the previous strongest earthquake in Malaysia occurred on June 5, 2015, in Ranau, Sabah.
The 6.0-magnitude quake claimed 18 lives and is still regarded as one of the most notable earthquakes in the country’s history.
Commenting on Monday morning’s quake, Mohd Hisham explained that it occurred off Sabah’s coast because the State lies near the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone formed by the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to do so. No aftershocks have been recorded so far,” he said.
“Because the earthquake’s epicentre lies deep beneath the Earth’s surface, at a depth of 678km, only mild tremors were felt by the public,” he said.
