KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 23 — A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday off the eastern coast of Malaysia, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The epicenter was located less than 100 kilometers northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, at a depth of 619.8 kilometers. The quake occurred at approximately 12:57 a.m. local time.
MetMalaysia Director-General Moh Hisham Mohd Anip said the strongest previous earthquake recorded in Malaysia was a magnitude 6.0 tremor that struck Ranau on June 5, 2015, killing 18 people, according to Bernama.
Moh Hisham said the latest earthquake occurred off Sabah’s coast because the region lies near the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active area formed by the movement of tectonic plates.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and no aftershocks have been observed so far, he said.
Residents in Kota Kinabalu and nearby areas reported feeling the tremors. One resident said the shaking lasted about 10 seconds, with ceiling fans swinging violently and picture frames rattling.
Another resident said she woke up to find her wardrobe doors swinging due to the building’s movement.
No tsunami warning has been issued, and authorities have not reported any casualties or major damage.
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