SeismIcity of Malaysia

Malaysia is closed to the most two seismically active plate boundaries, the inter-plate boundary between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian Plates on the west and the inter- plate boundary between the Eurasian and Philippines Sea Plates on the east. Major earthquakes originating from these plate boundaries have been felt in Malaysia.

Plate boundaries and epicentral distribution

Tremors felt along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia are originating from large earthquakes in the active seismic areas of Sumatra and Andaman Sea. East Malaysia has experienced earthquakes of local origin. Several possible active faults have been delineated and local earthquakes in East Malaysia appear to be related to some of them.

In addition to the local earthquakes, East Malaysia is also affected by tremors originating from large earthquakes located over Southern Philippines and Northern Sulawesi.

The following photographs show some of the damages caused by the earthquakes of 26 May 19991 and 10 October 1996.

 

 

Massive structure damage to the rubbish chute wall of the school (Ranau, Sabah) on 26/5/91 earthquake.

(Picture courtesy of Geological Survey Department)

Cracks at Macallum Flats at Macallum Street Ghant, Penang after the tremor on 10 October 1996.

(Picture courtesy of The Star)