KUALA LUMPUR: The moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale that hit Ranau about 9.06pm today was also felt in other parts of Sabah.
Among the areas affected were Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Penampang, Tuaran, Kudat and Kota Marudu.
A 51-year-old Kundasang resident, Marliana Rahmad, said she and her husband had just returned from a Yasin recital at a “madrasah” in Kampung Dumpiring when the incident took place.
“We were surprised (this time around) although being used to earthquakes here. However, the tremors were very strong compared to the usual ones,” she said when contacted by Bernama tonight.
Marliana said both of them were grateful for having survived the six-second quake.
“At that time, the lights and household items were swaying but luckily, nothing broke,” she said, adding that the situation was now back to normal and there had been no ongoing tremors in Kundasang.
For Suryani Mohd Saidi, she could feel the tremors for about 10 seconds at her home in Penampang.
“My family and I were resting in the living room before we suddenly felt the tremors … the couch and other items inside the house swayed back and forth.
“Then, I called my friend who said she also felt the tremors,” she said.
The 50-year-old admitted that she did not panic at that time as she had experienced this before.
“Perhaps, the tremors in the Penampang area were not as strong as other parts in Kota Kinabalu but they could still be felt,” she said.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), in a statement on its official Facebook account, said the epicentre was Longitude 6.1º North and Latitude 116.6 º East.
The tremors also became a hot topic on social media where some of users shared their stories and experiences, as well as praying for the safety of friends and relatives in the affected areas.
Among them was Twitter account owner, Alix who wrote: “Star safe now.. #MtKinabalu #Ranau”.
Another user, Sabrina posted: “Hopefully, nothing happened to my relatives in Ranau due to huge (strong) earthquake.” — Bernama
