Strong earthquake hits Indonesia, authorities rule out tsunami

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of Kalimantan (Borneo) Island  early on February 23, Indonesian authorities said, though officials confirmed there was no threat of a tsunami.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the quake occurred at 1:57 a.m. local time on February 23 in the Sabah region of Malaysia. The epicentre was located at sea, about 109 kilometres northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, at a depth of 628 kilometres, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

The earthquake was classified as an oblique thrust fault event, triggered by deformation of the Philippine Sea Plate, according to BMKG.

Tremors were felt across parts of Indonesia’s North Kalimantan province. In Nunukan district, shaking reached Level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, with vibrations comparable to those caused by a passing truck. In Tarakan, the province’s largest city, the quake was recorded at Level II, meaning it was felt by only a few people, with lightly suspended objects seen swaying.

Authorities said computer simulations showed the deep offshore quake did not have the potential to generate a tsunami. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

By Sabina Mammadli