GEORGE TOWN: Tremors were felt in certain areas on Penang Island after a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck North Sumatra at 6.54pm on Saturday (Aug 15).
Many Penangites, particularly those living in high-rise buildings, felt the tremors from the quake, which occurred about 500km away.
The Star reader Aaron Lim, 50, who lives on the 7th floor of an apartment in Pulau Tikus, said he was watching television when he suddenly felt movement and initially thought he was experiencing a vertigo attack.
“I was watching TV when I felt the movement. At first, I thought I was having a vertigo attack.
“Then I realised that the building was shaking mildly. I have experienced tremors before, where I could feel my apartment building swaying,” he told The Star.
Another Penangite, Sean Wazi,45, said he felt the tremors at his flat in Teluk Kumbar.
"Many of my neighbours screamed, and some of them ran out of the flat fearing for their safety," he said.
According to a post on the Malaysian Meteorological Department's Facebook page, the earthquake struck at a depth of 154km, with the epicentre located at 2.9° north latitude and 98.8° east longitude, about 37km southwest of Permatang Siantar in North Sumatra province.
It also said that tremors may be felt in areas along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
However, there is no tsunami threat from the quake.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department said so far they have received five distress calls informing them about the incidents.
