WNAM REPORT: A strong 7.1-magnitude tectonic earthquake struck off the northern coast of Kalimantan (Borneo) Island early Monday, with Indonesian authorities confirming there was no tsunami threat to North Kalimantan Province.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake occurred in the Sabah region of Malaysia at 1:57 a.m. local time on Monday.
The epicenter was located at sea, about 109 km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, at a depth of 628 km.
BMKG said the oblique thrust fault earthquake was triggered by deformation of the Philippine Sea Plate.
The quake was felt in Nunukan District, North Kalimantan Province, at 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 tremor was recorded at Level II on the MMI scale, meaning it was felt only by a few people, with delicately suspended objects observed swaying.
Based on simulation results, the earthquake did not have the potential to generate a tsunami, BMKG added.
