Mild Earthquake Hits Tawau

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- A mild earthquake measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale struck Tawau at 4.54 am today, with tremors felt in several areas.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department, in a statement, said the quake epicentre was located at coordinates 4.5° North and 118.1° East, approximately 17 kilometres from Tawau town.

“The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres. Tremors were felt around Tawau,” it said.

A spokesperson of the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre, when contacted, said no untoward incidents were reported following the quake.

Meanwhile, in Tawau, local trader Anna Benjamin, 63, said she and her family felt the tremor at their home in Tanjung Batu Laut early this morning.

“It didn’t last long, maybe five seconds. Nothing was damaged when we checked. Please pray for our safety here in Tawau,” she said.

Restaurant owner Asmah Anit, 48, shared a similar experience, saying she felt the tremor for about five seconds at her residence in Taman Ria Height.

“My house is on a hill, so we felt a bit of shaking this morning. My children noticed it too,” she said.

General worker Mohd Izhan Hassan, 32, said he felt the quake at the Tawau Vocational College area for two to three seconds.

-- BERNAMA