A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck in the early hours of Monday off the coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake occurred at 12.57am local time on Monday, which was 1657 GMT on Sunday. Its epicentre was located 55km north northwest of Kota Belud and less than 100km northeast of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. The US Geological Survey placed the depth at 619.8km and assessed the likelihood of casualties or damage as low because of its depth.
The US Tsunami Warning Center did not issue any alert, stating that no tsunami activity was expected.
Malaysia’s Meteorological Department, known as MetMalaysia, recorded the magnitude slightly lower at 6.8. It placed the epicentre at coordinates 7.0°N and 116.4°E, about 49km west of Kudat, at a depth of 678km. The department said it would continue to monitor the situation and encouraged the public to submit details of any tremors felt through an online form.
Tremors were reported across Sabah’s west coast and in several areas of Sarawak state. Residents in neighbouring regions, including parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Brunei, also felt the shaking.
In Singapore, more than 1,500km away, several people reported tremors shortly after 1am. Social media posts described buildings swaying and doors making sounds.
One person in Pasir Ris wrote: “Felt it in Pasir Ris!!! My main door made some boooooom sound too.”
Another in Marine Parade near Katong said: “Huge shake just now in Marine Parade … Just past 1am, I’m near Katong side. Felt the whole building swaying left and right.”
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department reported no incidents or emergency calls related to the earthquake. “All stations are patrolling and monitoring their areas to ensure public safety and keep the situation under control,” the department told Bernama, Malaysia’s national news agency.
Authorities across the region, including in Indonesia and Singapore, also confirmed there were no tsunami risks or significant impacts. Monitoring is continuing as a precaution.
Deep earthquakes occur within subducted slabs and typically cause less surface damage than shallow ones, even when their magnitude is high. Although they can be felt over wide areas due to the energy released, their depth reduces the potential for structural harm.
In October last year, a Malaysian government geological agency study identified six states at risk of earthquakes: Pahang, Terengganu, Perak and Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo.
Last year, a series of smaller quakes struck Johor in late August, with magnitudes ranging from 2.5–4.1.
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