North Sumatra quake felt in Peninsular Malaysia

The tremors from the earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale which hit North Sumatra at 7.20 pm local time Monday were also felt in Peninsular Malaysia.

In the Klang Valley, the tremors were felt by people in Sri Hartamas, Kota Damansara and Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) at around 8.40 pm (Malaysian time).

A private sector employee, Zulkiflie Aminuddin, 25, said he initially thought he was suffering a migraine attack when he suddenly felt dizzy while being at home on the 18th floor of the Kiaramas Sutera condominium here.

READ: Moderate earthquake hits north Sumatra

"As I was walking to the kitchen, my steps became unstable and I felt dizzy...I thought it was a migraine attack, but it lasted only 10 seconds.

"I immediately checked the news on the social media, then I realised that the dizziness I felt was due to the earthquake in North Sumatra," he told Bernama.

Housewife Syakira Mustapha, 34, panicked when she felt the tremors while in a restaurant in TTDI with her family.

"Our glasses on the table suddenly started to move, I also felt dizzy...at first I thought the water was moving because there was loud music from the band playing there.

"However, when the band stopped playing, the water in my glass was still moving," she said.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Operations Force Centre Head, Samsol Maarif Saibani said the department had not received reports of any emergencies related to the incidents.

"However, the department will continue monitoring the situation and is prepared for any eventuality," he said.

In PENANG, among the areas where the tremors were felt were Bayan Lepas, Bayan Baru, Batu Maung, Sungai Ara, Jelutong, Gelugor, George Town, Padang Kota and Air Itam on the island while on the mainland, the tremors were felt in Juru, Seberang Jaya, Butterworth, Sungai Dua, Batu Kawan and Nibong Tebal.

A resident in the Ampang Jajar flats here, Noorfaridaton Ahmad Razak, 41, said the tremors were felt twice in her area, causing the residents to rushed down to the parking area.

"Our family had just finished eating dinner at about 9 pm and we suddenly felt the first tremor, some things in the house also moved. We all felt dizzy and then, there was a second tremor.

"We all ran down to the parking area and it was only later that we found out there was an earthquake in Sumatra. Thankfully, nothing bad happened here," said the mother of three.

Meanwhile, Norisyam Abdullah, 35, said she was in a supermarket in Seberang Jaya when she felt the tremors before everyone rushed out of the two-storey building to avoid any danger.

She said because of the tremors, many items started falling off the racks in the supermarket.

"When I arrived home at Delima Impian apartments in Juru, I saw all residents gathered in the parking area. They claimed to have felt strong tremors which also caused their furniture, including dining tables, beds and sofa sets to move.

"My husband who was home at that time also said the lights and ceiling fans started moving and water in the aquarium splashed about during the tremors. So far, nothing were damaged," she said.

In PERAK, residents in Ipoh and Manjung also admitted to have felt the tremors.

Hassan Abdul Razak, 42, from Ipoh, said the tremors were felt for five seconds while he was dining with his family.

"I was having dinner with my family at around 8.50pm or 9pm when we felt the tremors.

"But the tremors were not that strong to make us panic," he said when contacted here tonight.

In Manjung, a mobile phone shop worker Nur Erina Jasni, 21, said she felt the tremors for a few seconds when she was lying in bed about 9pm.

"I was about to doze off when I felt the bed shaking," she said.

-- BERNAMA