RECENT seismic activity in Johor has raised concerns amongst Malaysians about earthquake risks in the country.
The tremors experienced in areas such as Segamat and Batu Pahat have prompted questions about which parts of Malaysia are vulnerable to earthquakes.
Have six states been officially designated as earthquake risk areas?
Verdict:
TRUE
Six states – Pahang, Terengganu, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak – have been identified as areas at risk of earthquakes, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Monday (Oct 6).
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said studies conducted by the Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia Department through active fault mapping and the Malaysian Seismotectonic Map found fault zones in these states that are vulnerable to seismic activity.
As such, he said the Malaysian Seismic Hazard Map, developed by JMG in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), local universities and related technical agencies, is currently being updated.
"The update takes into account the latest data, including recent earthquake events, the presence of active faults, geological materials and soil investigation findings," he said.
"The earthquakes in Segamat and Batu Pahat were part of a natural process releasing accumulated tectonic energy within ancient fault lines to stabilise the earth's crust. This was influenced by the extension of the Mersing Fault Zone, a major fault system in East Johor," he added.
"Based on current and updated data, Segamat and Johor as a whole remain within a safe zone," he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
Source:
Bernama
