TAWAU: A tense three-hour ordeal gripped Tawau on Monday after tsunami warning sirens sounded from Masjid Al Khautar at around 8.45am, sending residents scrambling before authorities lifted the alert at noon.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department had earlier issued a tsunami watch from 10.30am to noon, covering east coast communities across four districts.
The warning was later lifted after authorities updated their assessment of the situation, with the all-clear siren sounded at the mosque at around 12.20pm and repeated for more than half an hour.
The alert triggered an immediate and visible response across the town. Security forces were deployed along the coastline, while major business premises shut their doors, including Pasar Tanjung Tawau, which normally operates from early morning until 6.30pm.
Restaurants, other businesses and even a petrol station near the market also closed during the alert.
Roads leading out of town reflected the public anxiety, with Jalan Kuhara and Jalan Apas heavily congested as residents fled the urban centre. Traffic police were stationed at traffic lights to manage the exodus.
Schools also saw congestion as parents were allowed to pick up their children, while the town centre fell eerily quiet during what would usually be peak hours.
For Hasri Omar, 30, a staff member at Balung Palm Oil Mill in Sungai Burong, the moment the tremors struck is one he will not forget.
“I saw office documents on the table shaking. I thought a heavy machine like an excavator was passing nearby, but there was none,” he said.
“Realising it was an earthquake, I immediately called my wife at home to check on her and asked her to prepare important documents to bring along, just in case something bad happened,” he said.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Jasmin Hussin urged the public to remain vigilant and to rely only on official sources for information relating to disasters, weather and public safety.
He cautioned against trusting rumours, voice recordings, viral messages or unverified information, warning that the spread of inaccurate or unconfirmed content risks causing unnecessary anxiety, panic and confusion in the community.
“Practise the culture of ‘Check Before You Share’, verify information before passing it on to others,” he said.
Jasmin also expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation and sense of responsibility in maintaining public order and ensuring accurate information reached the community.