LD should be prepared: Dept
Published on: Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Ranau: The Lahad Datu district on Sabah's east coast should be prepared in the eventuality an earthquake hits, said Malaysian Meteorological Department Director-General Datuk Che Gayah Ismail. The last major earthquake in Lahad Datu happened in 1976 with a magnitude of 5.8, she said in a briefing for Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin, here.
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Che Gayah said the stress on the active faults had been building up since then, despite a magnitude three tremor there in 2012. "It is a worrying situation and we have to be prepared for any eventuality," she said.Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) geologist Dr Felix Tongkul had proposed that seismic monitoring equipment similar those to be installed on the top of Mount Kinabalu be provided in Lahad Datu as well.He said the sensitive equipment would enable geologists to monitor seismic activities in the "hotspots" such as Kundasang, Ranau, Mount Kinabalu and Lahad Datu.He said geologists could advise evacuation on locations facing imminent threat of severe tremors or earthquakes.
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A magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit Mount Kinabalu on June 5, and 18 climbers and guides were killed in subsequent rock and bounder avalanches.The earthquake also triggered landslides at the foot of the mountain leading to severe flash floods in the Mesilou and Kiau areas about a week later. The last major earthquake in Ranau occurred in 1991 but only damaged multi-storey structures there.
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Meanwhile, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry plans to carry out two tube well pilot projects in this district to help ensure adequate clean water supply for the local residents.Its Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin said the tube wells would be built at two locations in Ranau to be determined by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA)."Each tube well will cost RM120,000 to RM150,000 to build," he told reporters Monday after viewing the condition of the water intake point in Kimolohing and gauging the suitability of locating the ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis plant, here.Earlier, Ewon heard a briefing and latest report on the Sabah earthquake and mud flood from the MRSA, Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) and Malaysian Technology Development Cooperation.He said during the briefing, the MRSA stated, among other things, that Ranau had a big potential of having underground water sources."The ministry will undertake the two tube well pilot projects to see whether underground water can be used by the local residents.On a related development, Ewon said the water supply disruption in Ranau had been restored up to 60 per cent at the moment. "But what is worrying now is if there's heavy rain, mud flood could occur and clog the water intake point here."He also said that 87 aftershocks were recorded by the MMD since June 5 until Sunday, with the quakes measuring between 1.6 and 5.1 on the Richter scale.On the need for Malaysia to be cautious of the possibility of an earthquake hitting Lahad Datu as mentioned at the briefing, Ewon said such an incident could not be predicted, but everyone should always be prepared."What the MMMD meant was that we should always be alert and be prepared for any eventuality."I don't want to announce it and make people panic. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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