7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes off Malaysia's Borneo coast

2026-02-22 - 20:22

A significant earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Malaysia Sunday, the US Geological Survey reported. The tremor's epicenter was located approximately 55 kilometers northwest of Kota Belud in Sabah state, on the island of Borneo, at a depth that seismologists are still analyzing. Regional Impact and Assessment Authorities reported no immediate casualties or significant damage following the seismic event. While Malaysia sits outside the geologically active Pacific "Ring of Fire," the nation occasionally experiences tremors from regional seismic activity, particularly originating from neighboring Indonesia and the southern Philippines. Local emergency services are conducting assessments in coastal areas as a precautionary measure. Seismic Context The quake adds to a series of significant seismic events across Southeast Asia in recent months, though earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively rare in Malaysian territory. Sabah state has experienced notable seismic activity in the past, including a damaging 6.0 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that struck Mount Kinabalu, causing casualties and infrastructure damage. Officials continue to monitor for potential aftershocks.