SABAH remains safe following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck in the early hours of 23 February off the waters of Kota Kinabalu, with federal authorities confirming there is no tsunami threat and minimal impact on Malaysia.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said the quake occurred at 12.57am at a depth of 678 kilometres within the mantle zone, resulting only in weak tremors felt across Sabah, northern Sarawak and parts of Peninsular Malaysia.
“The deep-seated nature of the earthquake means surface effects are weak and the overall risk of building damage is low,” he said, adding that tremors might have been more noticeable in areas with softer soil conditions.
He stressed that coastal communities need not be alarmed, as the depth of the quake made significant seabed displacement unlikely.
There is no risk of a tsunami, he said, as the tremor was too deep beneath the Earth’s crust to generate such an event.
The minister distinguished the incident from the shallow 2015 Ranau earthquake, describing the latest tremor as a natural geological process driven by oceanic plate movement far below the surface.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability said the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia is working with local authorities to enhance earthquake-resistant building standards, while Malaysian Meteorological Department will continue to monitor for possible aftershocks.
Members of the public have been urged not to circulate unverified information, as the relevant agencies, including the National Disaster Management Agency, are monitoring developments around the clock. - February 24, 2026
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