RM15m for Sabah quake monitoring
Published on: Sunday, April 17, 2016
Lahad Datu: The Government has approved an allocation of RM15m to further strengthen the earthquake monitoring and detection system in the State. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the measure was taken following the Ranau earthquake last June. He said the amount included 15 new seismic stations, five of which are located within the Mount Kinabalu area, two in Lahad Datu and the remaining eight in other areas in Sabah.ADVERTISEMENT "The Federal Government has also placed 53 tsunami sirens at strategic points throughout the country to ensure tsunami warnings can be conveyed to the people as soon as possible."Of these, 14 are placed in Sabah, two of them in Lahad Datu," he said, when opening the Public Awareness Programme on Earthquake and Tsunami, here, Saturday. Tangau said the programme is an initiative taken by his Ministry with the collaboration of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to raise awareness and educate the community in facing any disaster.He said Lahad Datu was chosen as it is a risk area for earthquakes and had experienced one in 1976 with a 5.8 magnitude on the Richter scale, causing damage to infrastructure and buildings.ADVERTISEMENT Lahad Datu residents have also experienced tremors following earthquakes in neighbouring Indonesia in February and March this year.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"Communities living in earthquake-risk areas should always be alert and take precaution to minimise the impact on their lives and properties," he said.
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Also present were Mosti Secretary-General Dato' Sri Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur, Nadma Director General Dato' Zaiton Abd Samad, Lahad Datu Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal, Meteorological Department Director General Dato' Che Gayah Ismail and district officer Iman Ali.