Kota Kinabalu, Feb 23: A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, in the early hours of Monday, sending tremors across Borneo and as far as Singapore. Despite the high magnitude, the significant depth of the quake prevented widespread destruction, and no tsunami warning was issued.
The earthquake occurred at 12:57 AM local time on Monday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was located approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state, at a depth of 619.8 kilometers. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), which measured the quake at a magnitude of 6.8, confirmed that the epicenter was situated roughly 49 kilometers west of Kudat.
Residents in various parts of Sabah and Sarawak reported feeling the ground sway for several seconds. In Kota Kinabalu, some described ceiling fans swinging violently and furniture moving, though the tremors were notably “deep” rather than sharp. Remarkably, tremors were also felt by residents in Singapore, over 1,500 kilometers away, with reports of swaying buildings in areas such as Marine Parade, Pasir Ris, and Toa Payoh.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center and MetMalaysia both confirmed that there was no threat of a tsunami, as the quake’s extreme depth meant it did not displace enough water to generate dangerous waves. The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department conducted patrols immediately following the event and reported that no emergency calls regarding injuries or structural damage were received.
“The significant depth of this earthquake acted as a buffer, absorbing much of the seismic energy before it reached the surface. While the magnitude was high, the risk of surface damage remained low,” noted a seismic expert monitoring the region.
MetMalaysia has stated it will continue to monitor the situation closely for any aftershocks, though none have been recorded so far. Authorities have advised the public to remain calm, noting that East Malaysia remains a seismically active zone due to its proximity to the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
