SANDAKAN – Hundreds of panicked patrons tried to evacuate a shopping mall here after what they thought was an earthquake had hit the city earlier this morning.
However, the truth was far less exciting.
It was only cracked tiles… and it affected only one shop.
The incident that happened this morning was recorded and shared by the public on social media, showing the crowds rushing to the escalator frantically to leave the building.
Sandakan Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) said in a statement later that they had inspected the premise and found only a few cracked tiles in one of the shop lots, not the entire structure.
The board advised the public against spreading false information that may cause panic among patrons.
One of the tenants in Harbour Mall, Syuhada Chin told The Vibes that at 10.56am, she saw a large crowd suddenly rushing to the escalator to leave the mall.
She was first confused, but then became panicked after she heard someone yelling: “Earthquake! Earthquake!”
“But I didn’t leave because I didn’t feel and tremor, and I cannot leave my shop unattended,” she said.
Syuhada who operates Coppa Cabana bubble tea shop in the mall said videos of the incident quickly became viral on Facebook, and people avoided going to the mall today.
“I hope the fact that Harbour Mall is safe to be visited will also become viral so that people will not stop coming here.”
Earlier, Harbour Mall Sandakan’s management team said the incident was caused by a small section of floor tiles that popped up on level 4 of the mall.
The mall assured the public that the mall building is in absolute good tenable condition and has no structural issues as claimed by some irresponsible parties. It also urged the public to refrain from believing and circulating false news without verifying its authenticity. – The Vibes, June 12, 2022. – The Vibes, June 12, 2022
