Kota Kinabalu encounters earthquakes from Mindanao, leads to evacuations

PETALING JAYA: A number of Kota Kinabalu buildings were evacuated today due to earthquakes that were felt around the city.

Azli Mohd Abu Bakar, the corporate communications audio visual officer for Yayasan Sabah Group, and other occupants of Tun Mustapha Tower reported feeling earthquakes at around 10 am, according to the New Straits Times.

“I sensed movement while I was seated. About ten seconds passed during the shocks, he told the English daily.

“We were told to gather in the public area and evacuate via the stairs.”

About twenty workers on the fifteenth floor were impacted, and they were told not to come back to the office for the remainder of the day as a precaution.

The state assembly legislative building did not experience any seismic activity, allowing the third day of proceedings to proceed without any disruptions.

The Fire Department started monitoring and evacuations in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tawau, Sandakan, Ranau, and Kota Belud in reaction to the tremors.

Three teams from the Kota Kinabalu station were sent to Wisma Wanita, Menara Kinabalu, and Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu as at the time of press.

The 6.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked Mindanao, Philippines, at 10:13 am was the cause of the vibrations.

There is no tsunami threat against Malaysia, despite the shaking experienced in Sabah and Labuan.