Weak 3.3-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Batu Pahat Waters, No Tsunami Threat Detected
KUALA LUMPUR: A weak earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale struck waters off Batu Pahat, Johor early Sunday morning, prompting monitoring by authorities although no tsunami threat or major damage has been reported.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the earthquake occurred at 1.17am and was located at coordinates 1.7 degrees North and 102.7 degrees East.
According to the agency, the epicentre was approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Batu Pahat at a depth of 10 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface.
MetMalaysia described the tremor as a weak earthquake but noted that light shaking may have been felt by residents in Batu Pahat and nearby areas, depending on local geological conditions and building structures.
“The weak earthquake of magnitude 3.3 occurred in the waters off Batu Pahat, Johor at 1.17am.
“Tremors may be felt in areas around Batu Pahat and the situation will continue to be monitored,” the department said in a statement.
Although Malaysia is not situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country occasionally experiences mild earthquakes and tremors due to tectonic activity within the region or from major seismic events occurring in neighbouring countries.
Earthquakes originating from Indonesia, particularly around Sumatra, have in the past caused tremors to be felt in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the western states.
The latest incident drew attention because Johor is not commonly associated with seismic activity compared with Sabah and Sarawak, where mild earthquakes have occasionally been recorded.
However, experts have repeatedly stressed that localised seismic activity can occur in various parts of Malaysia due to regional tectonic movements and geological fault lines.
MetMalaysia said it is closely monitoring the situation through its national seismic network to detect any aftershocks or unusual seismic developments.
The department also encouraged members of the public who experienced tremors to participate in an online survey to assist in gathering data regarding the intensity and geographical spread of the shaking.
Information collected from the public will help scientists and meteorologists better understand the effects of the earthquake and improve future assessments.
Authorities have advised Malaysians not to panic or spread unverified information on social media, urging the public to rely only on official announcements issued by MetMalaysia and other government agencies.
Over the years, Malaysia has strengthened its seismic monitoring capabilities through a network of observation stations that operate around the clock.
The system allows authorities to rapidly detect earthquakes occurring within the country and surrounding regions, ensuring timely dissemination of information to the public.
For now, no injuries, structural damage or tsunami warnings have been reported following the Batu Pahat earthquake.
MetMalaysia assured the public that it would continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates should there be any significant developments related to the seismic activity.
