Met Dept: No tsunami threat to Malaysia

Residents flee to higher ground after an earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, in the city of Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia March 2, 2016. - Reuters

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Meteorological Department has confirmed that there is no threat of a tsunami hitting Malaysia, after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the west of Sumatra Wednesday evening.

A spokesman for the Department said Malaysia was not under immediate threat as it was mostly shielded by the island of Sumatra.