KOTA KINABALU: The Meteorological Department will now need to issue alert to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) if an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale strikes Ranau and its surrounding area.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said under normal circumstances, the alert will only be issued to Nadma if a quake of more than 5.0 magnitude strikes.
"However, because Ranau and Mount Kinabalu is a risky area, an alert has to be issued even if it's 5.0 magnitude to ensure better preparation and disaster management," he said at a press conference here Friday (March 9).
Tangau also instructed the Meteorological Department to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and to issue alert on quakes or other disasters within eight minutes of its occurrence.
"The department took about 15 minutes to put up an alert on its website following the incident on Thursday (March 8) and this shouldn't be the case," he said.
Meanwhile, he said more seismic sensors have been put in place at hotspots including in Ranau.
Tangau said no one can ever predict an earthquake but these sensors can at least monitor earth movements and hopefully be able to identify areas where earthquakes could occur.
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