Johor, Selangor residents shaken by Sumatra quake

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra.- PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM USGS.

JOHOR BARU: Residents panicked when tremors were felt at their condominium here Wednesday night following an earthquake in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Johor Baru Fire and Rescue operations commander Rohaizat Hamdan said a five fire-fighters were sent to the 19-storey building in Taman Bukit Aliff, Tampoi, after a resident notified the station of tremors at 9.09pm.

He said the fire fighters felt the tremors after they arrived there and quickly ordered all residents to assemble in an open space outside the building.

"The tremors were felt from the 11th floor upwards, and we are still conducting checks at the building," he said, adding that the residents would be allowed into their homes after the situation was considered safe.

The tremors were triggered by a strong earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale in southwest Sumatra at 8.49pm.

In Selangor, the Fire and Rescue Department received three distress calls over tremors.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Sani Harul said the first call came at 8.54pm from a resident of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) flats in Section 7, Petaling Jaya.

He said the second call was received 15 minutes later from a resident of Block A, Section 26/38, Kampung Baru Hicom, Shah Alam.

"The third call was received a minute after that, from the Tiara Park Home area in Taman Bukit Ria, Kajang," he said in a statement here tonight.

In Kota Baru, residents of apartments at the 23-storey Pelangi Mall also rushed out of their homes after experiencing tremors.

Kota Baharu Fire and Rescue head of operations Senior Fire Officer II Ismail Mohd Taib said checks by his men found no one trapped in the building and all returned to their homes after the all clear was given. - Bernama