Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo today. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Determining the location and depth of the earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was located less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. The earthquake also occurred at a depth of approximately 619.8 kilometers below the Earth’s surface, indicating it was a relatively deep earthquake.
The nature of deep earthquakes
Earthquakes at great depths have less impact on the Earth’s surface than shallow earthquakes, despite their high magnitude. This is because some of their energy dissipates before reaching the surface. No tsunami warnings have been issued so far.
Malaysia lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Earthquakes are frequent in this area due to the movement of tectonic plates.
