PETALING JAYA: Earthquakes in the peninsula were potentially caused by the reactivation of ancient fault lines following high magnitude earthquakes in Sumatera, Indonesia, says the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
It said that several areas such as Bukit Tinggi and Jerantut in Pahang, as well as Kuala Pilah in Negri Sembilan, were among the areas affected by the reactivation of these fault lines.
“Malaysia is located close to two seismically active plate collision boundaries, which are between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate to the west and the collision boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate to the east.
“The tremors of a high magnitude earthquake that occurred and centred on these plates could be felt in Malaysia.
“Tremors felt on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia are usually caused by large magnitude earthquakes centred on Sumatera and the Andaman Sea,” it said in a statement to The Star.
Some of the latest earthquakes originating in Indonesia that were reported and felt in Malaysia took place on April 4 and April 25 with magnitudes of 6.2 and 7.0 respectively.
MetMalaysia said that for Sabah, local earthquakes are possible as the fault lines within the state’s regions are still active.
“The occurrence of earthquakes in Malaysia is usually more concentrated in Sabah due to the existence of several active faults. For example, the Mensaban Fault Line and the Lobou-Lobou Fault Line,” it added.
MetMalaysia said a 2017 study on Active Faults in Peninsular Malaysia with Emphasis on Active Geomorphic Features of Bukit Tinggi Region also suggests that the Bukit Tinggi fault zone is considered to be active and a potential source of future earthquakes.
It also revealed that areas outside Bukit Tinggi, Benus and Karak faults are also active.
It said from 2017, Peninsular Malaysia has experienced mild earthquakes. Virtually all earthquakes recorded in the peninsula were under magnitude 5.0.
“However, the recognition of active faults exhibiting active tectonic landforms suggests that these faults have produced damaging earthquakes before and have potential to trigger similar tremors in the future,” the research found.
A 2021 study from the Prince of Songkhla University titled Intraplate Earthquake Occurrence and Distribution in Peninsular Malaysia Over the Past 100 Years found that Peninsular Malaysia is still facing earthquake risks, not only from regional tectonics but also from local tectonics.
“For the local tectonic setting, there are a number of pre-existing, assumed dormant faults (and fault zones), which have been reactivated causing local tectonic earthquakes,” said research report authors Dony Adriansyah Nazaruddin and Helmut Duerrast.
According to data from MetMalaysia, there were 12 local earthquakes that have taken place in the country since 2021 up to April 26 this year.
Following the higher potential of domestic seismic activities, the department said any action to reduce the effects and impact of earthquakes in Malaysia would be appropriate, to reduce the risk on people and buildings.
MetMalaysia said it has always been on the watch for regional seismic activities and information pertaining to it will be delivered to the authorities and the public.
It added that various government agencies are also on the case – the Minerals and Geosciences Department has issued a Seismic Disaster Zone Map for Geodisaster Management, while the Town and Country Planning Department has issued Planning Guidelines for Development and Management in Earthquake Disaster Risk Areas.
MetMalaysia also provides awareness materials on its website to prepare the public in the case of any major earthquakes.
