Malaysia’s Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) says information on earthquakes is issued within six minutes of detection, subject to data availability, as it continues round-the-clock monitoring of seismic activity in Sabah.
The department said it monitors the state through 28 seismic stations following a magnitude 3.3 earthquake in Kuamut, Kinabatangan, at 5:32 am on Sep 26.
Among the stations closest to the epicentre are Sapulut, 57.23km away, Keningau at 66.51km, Sandakan/Telupid at 74.36km, Matupang at 76.67km and Tenom at 93.32km.
MetMalaysia said the network enables earthquakes to be detected and analysed quickly, but stressed that there is currently no technology capable of predicting when, where or how strong an earthquake will be before it occurs.
Seismic stations can detect and determine an earthquake’s magnitude only after it has happened. While additional stations or sensors can strengthen local monitoring coverage, they cannot provide advance prediction of seismic events.
The potential for a tsunami is assessed based on the earthquake’s magnitude and other monitoring data. If a threat is identified, MetMalaysia will issue the necessary alerts and guidance.
The department said it would continue monitoring seismic activity in Sabah and provide timely and verified information to the public and relevant agencies through its official channels.
