Earthquake rattles residents in several districts in Sabah
“There will likely be tremors after this and residents in the surrounding areas need to be cautious” said Universiti Malaysia Sabah Geologist Prof Dr Felix Tongkul. Courtesy pix
By NSTP TEAM - March 8, 2018 @ 10:45pm
KOTA KINABALU: An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck in Ranau, rattling people living in several districts in the west coast and interior of Sabah.
It also brought back memories of the earthquake that struck on June 5 in 2015 where 18 people were killed on Mount Kinabalu, in the same district where the epicentre was traced at about 9.06pm.
The earthquake, which lasted up to 10 seconds, was the strongest since the 2015 episode where it was recorded at 5.9 on the Richter scale, with over 100 tremors in the months that followed.
Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais when contacted said everyone on Mount Kinabalu was reported safe and checks are being conducted along the summit trail by park rangers.
There are 130 climbers, 42 mountain guides, 11 Sabah Parks staff, four porters as well as six Mountain Search and Rescue (MOSAR) team members, he said.
"We have instructed our team there to bring them down tonight,"he said.
There are 130 climbers, 42 mountain guides, 11 Sabah Parks staff, four porters as well as six Mountain Search and Rescue (MOSAR) team members on Mount Kinabalu. Courtesy pix.
A Sabah Parks staff said emergency evacuation carried out at Laban Rata on Mount Kinabalu as a safety precaution.
"Guests and staff from the park as well as Sutera Sanctuary (Lodges) were told to gather at a nearby helipad after the tremors were felt," said the staff who declined to be named.
Sutera Sanctuary Lodges runs the accomodation service for climbers of the 4,095m mountain.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah Geologist Prof Dr Felix Tongkul said many called him after hearing a loud sound before they felt the strong tremors in areas near the mountain such as Mesilau and Kundasang.
“The earthquake is not a tremor that continue from the 2015 incident. This is a new earthquake,” Tongkul added of the quake which was traced to 6.1 degrees north, 116.6 east, about 16km northwest of Ranau, according to the Meteorological Department.
“There will likely be tremors after this and residents in the surrounding areas need to be cautious.”
Sofiana Waslin, a 33 year old assistant researcher with Sabah Parks said she was watching tv at home with the family when they felt the 10-second earthquake.
"Things were falling off the cabinet but nothing broke.
"All five of us rushed outside, some of our neighbours were heard screaming," she said adding that their hilly Kampung Desa Aman was located about 600 metres from Kundasang town located at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu, about 100km from here.
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