MET Malaysia On 24-hour Quake Watch In Sabah Via 28 Seismic Stations

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia) is keeping a round-the-clock watch on earthquake activity in Sabah via 28 seismic stations statewide.

MET Malaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the monitoring enables the department to detect and analyse earthquakes swiftly.

He said the seismic stations closest to the epicentre are Sapulut, 57.23 kilometres away; Keningau (66.51 kilometres); Sandakan/Telupid (74.36 kilometres); Matupang (76.67 kilometres); and Tenom (93.32 kilometres).

"Quake information will be disseminated within six minutes of detection, subject to data availability. To date, there is still no technology capable of predicting earthquakes," he said in a statement today.

The statement follows a weak magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck Kuamut, Kinabatangan, at 5.32 am yesterday.

Mohd Hisham said earthquakes cannot be predicted in terms of time, location or magnitude, and seismic stations only serve to detect and determine a quake's magnitude after the event.

He said tsunami threats, meanwhile, can be assessed based on earthquake magnitude and related monitoring data.

"If there is a potential tsunami threat, MET Malaysia will issue the relevant information and warnings," he said.

He said installing additional seismic stations or sensors at a given location can strengthen local monitoring coverage and capability, but this does not mean earthquakes can be predicted earlier.

"MET Malaysia will continue to monitor seismic activity in Sabah and channel fast, accurate and verified information to the public and relevant agencies," he said.

In light of this, the public is advised to obtain information on earthquakes and tsunamis only through MET Malaysia's official channels.

-- BERNAMA