Fact of the day! Most people think Peninsular Malaysia doesn’t experience earthquakes, but surprisingly, we do. From 1922–2020, 59 earthquakes were recorded in Semenanjung, though most were weak. The strongest happened on 31 Jan 1922 in Johor with M5.4. Today, again with M4.1.
I’ve been meaning to make a thread about this for months, but today’s event finally pushed me to dig up the articles I saved. A bit of intro: Strong earthquakes usually occur in a region famously known as the Ring of Fire, where tectonic plate boundaries are most active.
These big earthquakes happen coz of two tectonic plates slide against each other. These are called INTERPLATE EARTHQUAKES. They have the potential to unleash catastrophic earthquakes (sometimes tsunamis). Notable examples: 2004 Aceh M9.1 2011 Japan M9.1 1960 Chile M9.5
What about Semenanjung Malaysia? Tectonically we’re situated on a stable craton, thus we’re considered as a region with low seismicity. HOWEVER, earthquakes can still happen even if we’re in the INTERIOR of a tectonic plates. These are called INTRAPLATE EARTHQUAKES.
Before this, our fault lines were thought to be inactive. But after the 2004 Aceh quake and other massive events that shifted regional tectonic stress in SEA, some of these faults have been reactivated.
Introducing some of the active seismogenic (capable of producing earthquakes) faults & list of notable earthquakes. Bukit Tinggi — Kuala Lumpur Fault Zone • 22 local earthquakes were recorded along this fault zone (from 2007 until 2009) • M0.7 - M2.4
Seremban Fault Zone & Bentong—Raub Suture Zone (Negeri Sembilan & Pahang) • 4 earthquakes in 2009 • M1.9 - M2.1
Manjung Area, Perak Some of these (‘97, ‘98) happened in the Malacca Strait. • 28 April 2009, M1.7 • 25 July 1997, M2.6 • 22 August 1998, M4.1 • 13 February 2013, M5.2
Terengganu Fault Zone — Kenyir Dam This one is a bit different because the earthquakes were induced by the existence of the dam. In short, water is heavy and causing stress to the tanah so it shaky shaky. • M3.9 in 1985 & 1987 • Most recent one in 2016 with M1.7
Temenggor Dam (Perak) Same like above. • 2013, M2.5 • 2016, M2.0 - M2.1 (three events)
The Johor 1922 Earthquakes These were considered as the strongest earthquakes to happen in Semenanjung Malaysia (as far as we know). The shock was even felt in Kuantan & Singapore. But it is hard to find more data about this. • 31 January 1922, M5.4 • 7 February 1922, M5.0
“What about Sabah?” Sabah is different coz: 1. Located near major plate boundaries. 2. Influenced by major subduction zones. 3. Multiple active fault lines. 4. Stress accumulation from nearby active seismic activity Major earthquakes (above M6.0) can happen, like in 1976 & 2015
To wrap up: earthquakes in Peninsular Malaysia are rare, but they can happen. Even strong quakes from Sumatra can send tremors our way. Awareness is still low here. Many people don’t know what to do during an earthquake. So read up, stay alert, and stay safe! 🫨🫨
Sources for more reading: 1) https://link.springer.com/cont... 2) https://www.researchgate.net/p...
@IzzraifHarz Okay but why tho 👉👈
@anaxxii_ hold on im making a thread about this
@IzzraifHarz Would the weak tremors become stronger ones? How well equipped is Malaysia if such catastrophe occurs?
@rahah_ghazali Hopefully we wouldn’t experience a big one coz intraplate earthquakes are weaker than the earthquakes from tectonic plates boundary. But personally I think we are so unprepared for earthquakes in Semenanjung 😭😭
@IzzraifHarz Tasik kenyir also got, more than 10 years ago
@han_asoka The tasik one is so interesting to me.
@IzzraifHarz Bro, polar shift? Crust is moving? Logic x ?
@IzzraifHarz Superb thread. Thank you for sharing your knowledge - learned many things I didn't know!
@IzzraifHarz Rupanya tahun lepas Segamat ada bunyi letupan macam kat Ipoh. Sumber fb omen Necrofis. Kat shah alam awal ogos pon ada bunyi mcm meriam. Siapa perasan.
@IzzraifHarz Adakah perkara ini disebabkan kita berada di tgh plate & bukan dia pinggir? Mcm indo n jepun, bnyk earthquake yg serious
@IzzraifHarz usually earthquake akan last for few seconds even minutes, why in johor just one time sahaja eh ? is like barang jatuh then bagi gegar sikit then done, @metmalaysia kito nak tahu the reason hehehe
@IzzraifHarz When I was a kid I regularly felt earthquakes. My mum walking towards me with rattan in hand (sometimes chilli when I mispronounce some words). I am talking about 8 - 9 richter scale earthquakes and reaches 12 richter scale when the rattan landed on me.
@IzzraifHarz Thanks izzi. A good read, and more reading due on this topic for me. Have always been interested in geography especially since std three bila buat picture dictionary on alphabet "E". = Earthquake... and i continue to read/discover more on that topic. TQ again. 🌋
@IzzraifHarz We do experience small earhquakes around Malaysia before. Happen before in Bentong Pahang, Ranau, Lahad Datu & Kudat Sabah, Segamat Johor and Bukit Tinggi Selangor-Pahang.
@IzzraifHarz Aku rasa aku tido mati sebab aku tak rasa apa🫠🫠
@IzzraifHarz seismic tremor. intraplate earthquake.
@IzzraifHarz @threadreaderapp unroll
@IzzraifHarz Weak tu kira berapa dalam skala Richter?
@IzzraifHarz Baru je jap tadi ko 9 ada gegar lagi😯
@IzzraifHarz Sorry guys, kawan saya jatuh katil tadi
@IzzraifHarz https://www.researchgate.net/p... But the 1922 quake was most probably unsubstantiated.
