Johor to get two new seismic monitoring stations


KUALA LUMPUR: Johor will receive two new seismic monitoring stations in Segamat and Muar alongside upgrades to existing ones in the state, says the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.

Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said 12 seismic monitoring stations nationwide will be upgraded, including the four Johor installations in Mersing, Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Gelang Patah.

He explained that the measures are taken under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan.

"The aim is to enhance the ability to detect earthquakes and low-magnitude tremors," he told Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 6).

Low magnitude, Huang said, refers to tremors with a magnitude reading of 4.0 and below.

"They can cause infrastructure damage without affecting the integrity of the building," he said.

He added that Malaysia’s geohazard map will also be updated to reflect recent instances of earthquakes in Malaysia.

Parts of Johor were struck by earthquakes earlier this year, with the highest being a magnitude of 4.1.

According to Huang, studies will also be carried out on the incidents in Johor.

Huang said the quakes occurred due to the natural alignment of tectonic energy stored on ancient fault lines to stabilise the earth’s crust.

"The latest data, however, shows that Segamat and Johor are generally still considered safe zones," he said, adding that continuous monitoring will be carried out along identified fault lines to enhance community preparedness against earthquakes.

He said identified fault lines in Malaysia are across the states of Pahang, Terengganu, Perak, Negri Sembilan as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

 

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