PORT DICKSON HIT BY TREMORS

Locals believe they were caused by quake in Sumatera

TREMORS were reported at high-rise buildings here yesterday, believed to be from the earthquake that struck southern Sumatera, Indonesia.

Fauzi Ahmad, 43, a teacher at SK Panglima Adnan, said he felt the first tremor at 11.19am, which lasted for seven seconds, and a second tremor at 11.32am.

“Teachers and students evacuated classrooms and gathered at an open space because they were worried about their safety.

“After learning about the earthquake in Sumatera, their fears diminished because we’ve experienced it before.

“From what I understand, the earthquake started at 4am.”

It is understood that tremors were also felt at SK Teluk Kemang and SK Port Dickson.

Housewife Asmah Alias, 39, from Kampung Bagan Pinang, said she felt the tremors when she was outdoors hanging laundry, causing her to run into her house.

“These tremors have happened before.

“We are not far from Sumatera, which is often hit by earthquakes,” she said.

According to the Facebook page of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake yesterday hit southern Sumatera at 3.46am, 218km west of Bandar Lampung and 830km south of Pontian, Johor.

However, Negri Sembilan Meteorological Department director Mohammad Redzuan Abdul Moin said the department believed the tremors were not from the earthquake that occurred in Indonesia.

The department is investigating the cause of the tremors.

“The tremors felt in some areas in Port Dickson were not a result of earthquakes, as civilians claimed.

After learning about the earthquake in Sumatera, their fears diminished because we’ve experienced it before. FAUZI AHMAD

Teacher