2015 Sabah earthquake

2015 Sabah earthquake
Date 5 June 2015 (2015-06-05)
Origin time 07:15:43 MST (UTC+08:00)[1]
Duration 30 seconds
Magnitude 6.0 (Mw) (USGS)
5.9 (Mw) (MetMalaysia)
Depth 10 km (6.2 mi)[1]
Epicenter 5°58′48″N 116°31′30″E / 5.980°N 116.525°E / 5.980; 116.525Coordinates: 5°58′48″N 116°31′30″E / 5.980°N 116.525°E / 5.980; 116.525[1]
Type Normal
Areas affected West Coast & Interior Division (Mount Kinabalu area), Sabah, East Malaysia
Total damage Building and infrastructure damage, landslides & geological changes
Max. intensity VII (Very strong)
Landslides Yes
Aftershocks 130 (As of 1 April 2016)[2]
Casualties 18 deaths
11 wounded

The 2015 Sabah earthquake (Malay: Gempa Bumi Sabah 2015) struck Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia with a moment magnitude of 6.0 on 5 June,[1] which lasted for 30 seconds.[3] The earthquake was the strongest to affect Malaysia since 1976.[4]

Eighteen people died on Mount Kinabalu,[5] with most of the deaths being members of a group from Tanjong Katong Primary School while about 137 other people who were climbing the mountain were stranded, but were subsequently rescued.[6]

Tremors were also felt in Tambunan, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu, Inanam, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Likas, Penampang, Putatan, Kinarut, Papar, Beaufort, Keningau, Beluran, Sandakan, Kunak, Tawau in Sabah and as far afield as Federal Territory of Labuan, Lawas, Limbang and Miri in Sarawak as well as Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei.[7][8][9][10][11]

As a result of the earthquake, most areas in the Kinabalu Park have been closed temporarily until the situation is cleared and undergoing repairs and rehabilitation.[12][13]

Tectonic setting

Sabah lies within the Sunda Plate away from any plate boundaries. It was the location of a convergent plate boundary until some time during the Early Miocene. Since then Sabah has been massively uplifted, with the Kinabalu Granite, which was emplaced during the early Late Miocene (between 7.8—7.2 million years ago), being exhumed at a rate of 7 mm per year during Late Miocene–Early Pliocene (~ 8–3 Ma ago).[14] the region continues to rise at a long term rate of about 0.5 mm each year.[15] The uplift is thought to be a result of either break-off of the subducted slab or delamination of the lithosphere. Despite not being at a plate boundary, GPS measurements show that the coastal part of Sabah is moving towards the north-west. The uplift is thought to be driving gravitational collapse with sliding of the northwestern part of Sabah being accommodated by extension. This is consistent with the focal mechanism of earlier earthquakes in the onshore area.[16]

Earthquake

The earthquake occurred on 5 June 2015 at MST (23:15:43 UTC) at a depth of approximately 10 km (6.2 mi),[1] with its epicentre approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Ranau and lasting for thirty seconds.[3][17] The earthquake was initially reported as 6.0 Mw by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) while the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) reported the earthquake's magnitude to be 5.9 Ms.[1][18]

Cause

USGS ShakeMap for the event

The earthquake was caused by movement on a SW-NE trending normal fault.[19] As the epicentre of the earthquake was near to Mount Kinabalu, the shaking caused massive landslides around the mountain.[20]

Local native beliefs

According to the claims of local natives, the earthquake was caused by "aki" (the mountain protectors) who had become angered over the acts of ten western tourists (comprising six men and four women from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom)[21] who "stripped and urinated at the mountain (which is believed by local natives as a sacred place) on 30 May", six days before the earthquake happened.[22][23] The tourists also shouted vulgarities when they were told to desist by their mountain guide.[24][25] The acts provoked outrage among Sabahan natives who want all of the alleged offenders charged in native court and forced to pay the "sogit", a type of compensation, given in the form of money or livestock, to appease the aggrieved party according to local Kadazan-Dusun native customs. It is imposed on wrongdoers for the purpose of appeasing "the aggrieved", thus placating the native community.[26] However, as most of the detained tourists have been released from Malaysia's prison and escaping native court, the local villagers had perform their own rituals.[27] The naked disrespect was also condemned by Malaysian Science Minister who said:

Science has no answer to that (the sacred mountain). If the mountain is sacred, we have to respect that. It is part of the traditional and local knowledge that are increasingly recognised by the international community.[28]

The brother of one of the deceased mountain guides also criticised the behaviour of the tourists, saying:

It is not about laws or superstition, but about having mutual respect among human beings. As a Christian, I too do not believe in superstition, but I adhere to the advice and beliefs of the elders out of respect. It is part of being humans, we don't do things that will offend our fellow-human beings whether they are Muslims, Christian or Animists. This is something we taught here, but I guess a person like him (one of the bad nudists) doesn't have this in him.[29]

Aftershocks

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake that evening, three aftershocks occurred, with the first and second at 21:10 MST and 23:13 MST respectively, measuring 4.3 magnitude both, while a third at 23:32 MST was 2.8 Mw.[30] By 23 June 90 aftershocks had been reported at Ranau by the Malaysian Meteorological Department, ranging in magnitudes from 1.6 to 5.2.[2][31]

Casualties

Casualties by country[5][32]
Country Deaths Ref.
 Singapore 9 [30][33][34]
 Malaysia 6 [30][33]
 China 1 [35]
 Japan 1 [36]
 Philippines[lower-alpha 1] 1 [37]
Total 18

187 climbers were impacted, according to Sabah official sources, with most of them from Malaysia and Singapore, and others from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.[33][38] 137 of them were stranded but subsequently rescued.[6] As of 10 June 18 people of 5 nationalities were confirmed dead. The Singaporean teacher and student who were reportedly missing, were confirmed dead by the Singaporean Ministry of Education with an official statement released at the same day.[5] Subsequent investigation and witness by other climbers found that four Malaysian mountain guides died while protecting climbers.[39][40] The four guides were identified as Robbi Sapinggi,[41] Valerian Joannes, Ricky Masirin and Joseph Solungin.[40][42]

Damage

Donkey Ear's Peak, prior to earthquake damage which reduced the size of the prominences

During the earthquake, one of the peaks on Mount Kinabalu (called the Donkey's Ears) was broken off.[6] The source of the Poring Hot Springs a popular tourist area near Ranau, turned murky and black[43] for a few hours due to the earthquake, which disrupted a clay deposit that interrupts the fault gap that heats up the rainwater.[20] Some infrastructure was reported damaged with around 23 schools in six different districts affected, and Ranau Mosque was also damaged due to the tremor.[44][45]

Serious damage occurred to the hostels and resthouse near the summit of Mount Kinabalu. Buildings were similarly affected by the earthquake in Kota Belud and Tuaran.[46] The areas around Kundasang and Ranau suffered water supply disruption when the main water drainage pipe burst, and several plants in both regions were damaged with a leakage in the deposition tank.[47]

Response

Sabah local mountain guides became the first rescuers during the situation, as reported by an Australian climber.[48][49] Government agencies like the Fire and Rescue Department,[50] Royal Malaysia Police and Malaysian Armed Forces provide equipments during the rescue missions as been reported by the mountain guides.[51] Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu was turned into a disaster centre.[52] The National Security Council (NSC) dispatched 25 members of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) — paramedics, engineers and rescuers.[53]

Prime Minister Najib Razak ordered efforts to rescue victims stuck on Mount Kinabalu, with the army troops put on standby, as well as a 24-hour helpline being opened.[7][54][55] Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ordered the NSC to introduce an early warning system for earthquakes including for school buildings as well the setting up of a seismic centre to monitor earthquake activities in the state.[56][57]

Sabah State Government together with the Federal Government donated MYR5,000 (U$1,000+) each for Malaysians who died on the quake while MYR2,000 (U$300+) for injured victims.[58] The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has launched an impromptu donation drive for victims of the Sabah earthquake at the party’s muktamar on 5 June and raised a total of MYR19,800 (around U$5,000+) from delegates.[59] The Barisan Nasional Women's Wing together with the Sabah Community Services Council has also launched a fund, starting with MYR20,000 (US$5,300).[60] The Democratic Action Party (DAP)-led government in Penang has proposed to donate MYR100,000 (US$26,700) to the victims.[61]

AirAsia has collaborating with the Malaysia Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MVFRA) to transport relief items to Sabah.[62] The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) together with local telecommunications companies have started a public fund.[63] The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has hold a special prayers for the well-being of the people in Sabah and that the earthquake tragedy does not recur.[64] While the Sarawak State Government and Johor Sultan Ibrahim has donated a total MYR1 million (around US$200,000+) respectively.[65][66]

Apart from funds and donations granted by government bodies and big corporations, soon after the heroic Robbi Sapinggi[67][68] was identified as one of the first two victims on the very first day of the earthquake,[69] Robbi's employer, Amazing Borneo, started a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo[70][71] to let people donate to his family especially his newlywed wife and baby boy of 6 months old. Lots of people responded to the campaign to honour his sacrifice and act of bravery.[72]

International reactions

Notes

  1. ↑ Including:
    • 1 Filipino-Singaporean

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "M6.0 - 12km WNW of Ranau, Malaysia". United States Geological Survey. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "List of Earthquake in June 2015". Malaysian Meteorological Department. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "6.0 trembler rattles Sabah west coast". The Borneo Post. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Shedding new light on recent Sabah earthquake". Nanyang Technological University. June 2015. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Sabah quake: Death toll rises to 18; Malaysia to end search and rescue ops". The Straits Times. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Malaysia mountain quake: Eleven dead and eight missing". BBC News. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Najib: All efforts taken to rescue victims of the quake in Sabah". Bernama. The Sun. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Sandra Sokial (5 June 2015). "Early morning tremors rock parts of Sabah". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Sabah earthquake causes tremor in Labuan". Bernama. The Malay Mail. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "Tremors felt in Miri, Lawas and Limbang". The Borneo Post. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Siti Hajar (6 June 2015). "Tremors felt in heart of capital". Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Kinabalu Park temporarily off limits to visitors". Daily Express. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "RM10m to rebuild Kinabalu Park". Daily Express. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Cottam M.A.; Hall R.; Sperber C.; Kohn B.P.; Forster M.A.; Batt G.E. (2011). "Neogene rock uplift and erosion in northern Borneo: evidence from the Kinabalu granite, Mount Kinabalu". Journal of the Geological Society. 170: 805–816. doi:10.1144/jgs2011-130.
  15. ↑ Hall, R., Cottam, M.A., Suggate, S., Tongkul, F., Sperber, C. & Batt, G. 2009. The Geology of Mount Kinabalu. Sabah Parks Publication, 13. (in pg. 16)
  16. ↑ Sapin F.; Hermawan I.; Pubellier M.; Vigny C.; Ringenbach J.-C. (2013). "The recent convergence on the NW Borneo Wedge—a crustal-scale gravity gliding evidenced from GPS" (PDF). Geophysical Journal International. 193 (2): 549–556. doi:10.1093/gji/ggt054.
  17. ↑ "Sabah's west coast rocked by 6.0 magnitude earthquake (VIDEO)". The Malay Mail. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  18. ↑ Mengjie (5 June 2015). "5.9 magnitude earthquake hits Malaysia's Sabah state". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "NTU's Earth Observatory of Singapore sheds new light on recent earthquake in Sabah". Nanyang Technological University. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  20. 1 2 Felix Tongkul (7 June 2015). "Sabah quake: A geologist's perspective". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  21. ↑ Hannah Strange (10 June 2015). "British woman arrested in Malaysia over nude photos in Mount Kinabalu". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  22. ↑ Chris Kitching (5 June 2015). "Tourists' naked photo shoot atop Malaysian peak blamed for major earthquake as locals claim nudity angered 'mountain spirits'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Michelle Tam; Stephanie Lee (5 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Mount Kinabalu may be "angry" with nudists, say locals". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  24. ↑ Julia Chan (2 June 2015). "Warned not to strip, naked tourists allegedly told guide to 'go to hell'". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  25. ↑ Natasha Joibi (8 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Nude tourists shouted vulgarities at mountain guide". The Star. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  26. ↑ "Sabahans want 10 foreign stripper tourists charged in native court". Daily Express. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  27. ↑ "Five villages perform own rituals: Chief After unable to impose 'sogit' on nudists". Daily Express. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "Science buffs warned not to transgress local belief". Daily Express. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  29. ↑ Arnaz M. Khairul (9 June 2015). "Sabah Quake: Guide's brother hits out at 'nudist' Emil". New Straits Times. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 Mohd Farhan Darwis (6 June 2015). "11 bodies found at Mt Kinabalu, says Sabah minister". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "M5.2 - 28km N of Ranau, Malaysia". United States Geological Survey. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  32. ↑ Muguntan Vanar; Ruben Sario; Stephanie Lee; Natasha Joibi (7 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Full list of victims". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  33. 1 2 3 Sandra Sokial (7 June 2015). "Authorities release names of Mount Kinabalu quake victims". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  34. ↑ "Sabah quake update: 8 Singaporeans dead, 2 more missing". Channel News Asia. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  35. ↑ "一名携带中国护照的登山者在马来西亚地震中遇难" (in Chinese). Phoenix Television. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  36. ↑ "日本人男性、遺体発見か…ボルネオ地震" (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "12-year-old Fil-Singaporean dies in Sabah quake". Agence France-Presse. ABS-CBN News. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  38. ↑ Phyllis Wong; Peter Sibon; Lian Cheng (6 June 2015). "9 bodies found, death toll now up to 11". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  39. ↑ "Sabah quake: Mountain guide dies while shielding guests from falling rocks". Astro Awani. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  40. 1 2 Amanda Lee (9 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Mountain guides' bravery, selflessness hailed". Today Online. Channel News Asia. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  41. ↑ Greg Botelho; Wilfred Chan (6 June 2015). "13 confirmed dead, search ongoing for 6 missing on Malaysian mountain". CNN. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  42. ↑ Lam Shushan (12 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Families, loved ones remember fallen Kinabalu staff". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  43. ↑ Victoria Brown (5 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Water at hot spring turns black". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  44. ↑ "Sabah quake: Muhyiddin visits damaged school and mosque". The Star. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  45. ↑ Farik Zolkepli (6 June 2015). "Sabah quake: 23 schools in six districts affected, says Muhyiddin". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  46. ↑ "Hostels, buildings in 11 Sabah districts damaged in 6.0-magnitude quake". The Malay Mail. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  47. ↑ "Sabah quake: Kundasang region suffers water disruption". The Star. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  48. ↑ "Sabah quake: Local mountain guides hailed as unsung heroes in aftermath". Today Online. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  49. ↑ Michelle Tam (7 June 2015). "Sabah quake: Mountain guides the true heroes, says Australian climber". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  50. ↑ "Sabah Fire and Rescue kick-starts operation to save climbers". Astro Awani. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  51. ↑ "We work together: Guides". Daily Express. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  52. ↑ Olivia Miwil (5 June 2015). "Sabah Quake: Queen Elizabeth hospital ready as disaster centre". New Straits Times. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  53. ↑ "NSC mobilises SMART team to Sabah". Bernama. The Sun. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  54. ↑ "Army troops ready to be deployed in rescue efforts". The Star/Asia News Network. AsiaOne. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  55. ↑ "Sabah quake: Wisma Putra opens 24-hour helpline". The Star. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  56. ↑ "Muhyiddin orders NSC to introduce earthquake early warning system". Bernama. The Sun. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  57. ↑ "Seismic centre to be set up in Sabah". The Borneo Post. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  58. ↑ "RM10,000 each for families of Kinabalu victims". Free Malaysia Today. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  59. ↑ "Sabah earthquake prompts PAS to launch impromptu donation drive". The Rakyat Post. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  60. ↑ Saifulbahri Ismail (7 June 2015). "Fund launched in Sabah to help those affected by quake". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  61. ↑ "RM100K proposed for quake fund by DAP/Penang govt". Free Malaysia Today. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  62. ↑ Jennifer Morris (8 June 2015). "AirAsia takes part in Sabah relief effort after earthquake". Travel Weekly (UK). Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  63. ↑ "MCMC and telcos set up fundraiser for Sabah quake victims". Marketing Interactive. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  64. ↑ "All Mosques In Federal Territory To Perform Special Prayers For Well-being Of Sabahans". Bernama. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  65. ↑ Adib Povera (8 June 2015). "Sabah Quake: Sarawak donates RM1m to help victims". New Straits Times. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  66. ↑ "Johor sultan donates RM1 million to Sabah quake victims". Bernama. The Malaysian Insider. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  67. ↑ "Mountain guide laid to rest". Daily Express. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  68. ↑ Jennifer Morris (8 June 2015). "Former Intrepid Travel tour guide dies in Malaysia earthquake". Travel Weekly (UK). Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  69. ↑ Wilfred Chan; Laura Smith-Park; Brian Walker (6 June 2015). "11 dead, most climbers safe after quake hits Malaysia peak". CNN. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  70. ↑ "Sabah quake: Donations flood crowdfunding site in memory of 'heroic' mountain guide". The Malay Mail. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  71. ↑ "Sabah quake: Donations pour in online for family of 'heroic' mountain guide". Today Online. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  72. ↑ "Sabah quake: Internet raises $33,000 in 24 hours for late 'hero guide'". The Star/Asia News Network. AsiaOne. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  73. ↑ "Condolences sent to M'sia, S'pore". The Brunei Times. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  74. ↑ "Condolences for those lost in the Sabah Earthquake". Government of Timor-Leste. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  75. ↑ "Malaysian Government Extends Condolences To Quake Victim's Families". Bernama. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  76. ↑ Phyllis Wong; Peter Sibon; Lian Cheng (6 June 2015). "Monday declared day of mourning for Sabah out of respect for victims and families". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  77. ↑ "Sabah quake: Hope for the best, says PM Lee". Bernama. New Straits Times. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  78. ↑ "Sabah earthquake victims: Day of National Remembrance in Singapore on June 8". The Straits Times. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  79. ↑ "SEA Games to hold minute of silence for Malaysia quake tragedy". Agence France-Presse. Rappler. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

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