KOTA KINABALU: Firefighters were swiftly mobilised to ensure the safety of residents and infrastructure following a mild earthquake that shook Sabah’s hilly Ranau district on Tuesday morning (Dec 17).
The quake, which registered a magnitude of 3.1, struck at 10.01am with its epicentre located 14km west of Ranau at a depth of 10km, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
Ranau Fire and Rescue Services Department chief Ridwan Mohd Taib said the station dispatched two personnel, led by operations commander Senior Fire Officer Domianus Gidin, to conduct safety patrols.
“The firefighters conducted thorough patrols across key locations, including SMK Ranau, SMK Mat Salleh, and SMK Kundasang, to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the public.
“The team reported that the situation remained under control, with no casualties or damage identified,” he said.
Firefighters remained vigilant until operations concluded at 12.20pm, underscoring their commitment to public safety.
“The patrols were necessary to assure the community that the situation was stable and there were no immediate threats,” Ridwan added.
Ranau also experienced another mild earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale on Monday (Dec 16) at 2.56pm, with tremors felt in several areas.
The epicentre was located at coordinates 5.97° North and 116.57° East, approximately 15km west of Ranau.
This region is no stranger to seismic activity.
On June 5, 2015, Ranau faced one of Malaysia’s worst earthquakes, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, which tragically claimed 18 lives.
The victims included six Malaysians - four mountain guides and two climbers, 10 Singaporeans, and one each from China and Japan, who were scaling Mount Kinabalu when the quake struck.
Sabah’s first significant recorded earthquake occurred on July 26, 1976, near Lahad Datu.
The 6.3-magnitude quake remains one of Malaysia's strongest seismic events recorded by instruments.
