Kota Kinabalu: A 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck more than 600km below the seabed less than 100km northeast of Kota Kinabalu in the early hours of Monday caused only mild shaking along Sabah’s west coast due to its significant depth.
President of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Ir. Prof Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin, said the tremor occurred offshore in the early hours of Feb 23, but despite its strong magnitude, its depth meant the impact at ground level was limited.
Residents in parts of Kota Kinabalu and surrounding west coast districts reported feeling light shaking, particularly in high-rise buildings, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
He said magnitude alone does not determine how destructive an earthquake will be, as deeper quakes tend to lose much of their energy before reaching the surface.
Dr Jeffrey added that slight swaying in taller buildings is normal and shows that modern structures are designed to absorb movement and perform as intended.
Fears of a tsunami were also dismissed, as destructive tsunamis are usually caused by shallow earthquakes that shift the seabed vertically, which was not the case in this incident.
However, he cautioned that landslides on slopes, especially after heavy rain, remain a more realistic secondary risk.
Dr Jeffrey said an earthquake occurring at such depth poses minimal risk to well-constructed buildings.
“It serves as a reminder to uphold engineering standards, maintain building safety, stay prepared and not to panic,” he said.
He also advised the public to take simple preparedness steps such as securing heavy furniture, preparing an emergency kit and having a family safety plan.
The quake serves as a reminder that understanding risks, maintaining strong engineering standards and building informed communities are key to resilience.
