KOTA KINABALU: A second earthquake in just over two months has prompted calls for an early warning system to be installed in Kuamut and other high-risk areas here.
Kuamut assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah (pic) said the 3.3-magnitude tremor recorded at 5.32am on Saturday (Sept 26) should serve as a reminder of the need for better earthquake monitoring in the district.
He urged the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) to expedite the installation of automatic seismic sensors in vulnerable areas.
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“Earthquakes can recur, and MetMalaysia should take immediate responsibility to install early detection sensors in Kuamut before another incident occurs with greater risks,” he said in a statement today.
Kuamut is in Tongod district in central Sabah, one of the state’s larger and more remote interior districts.
The area was previously hit by a 3.6-magnitude earthquake on July 17.
Masiung said Tongod district officer Hadzlan Jablee had been instructed to identify areas affected by Saturday's tremor and check for possible cracks or damage to public infrastructure.
Although the tremor did not cause panic among residents, Masiung said full reports on any impact or damage from the Civil Defence Force, Public Works Department and police were still pending.
According to MetMalaysia, Saturday's weak earthquake was detected at coordinates 5.1 degrees north and 116.8 degrees east.
Its epicentre was about 34km southwest of Tongod and 223km northwest of Tarakan, Indonesia, at a depth of 118km.
MetMalaysia said there was no tsunami threat to Malaysia.
