A 3.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Temenggor area in Gerik, Perak, in the early hours of 28 August, jolting residents from their sleep and sending tremors through several surrounding areas.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the quake hit at 12.06am at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located approximately nine kilometres north-east of Hulu Perak, Bernama reported.
MetMalaysia placed the earthquake at coordinates 5.5 degrees north and 101.3 degrees east, according to Malay Mail. Residents across Gerik described feeling the ground shake in the middle of the night, though the tremor was classified as weak on the Richter scale. No structural damage or injuries were reported.
The department said it would continue monitoring the situation and issue updates if further developments arise.
The Gerik earthquake follows a string of minor seismic events in Peninsular Malaysia in recent weeks. A 3.1-magnitude quake struck waters off Batu Pahat, Johor, on 25 August, while a separate 3.3-magnitude tremor hit the same area on 21 June, according to Malay Mail. Both occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres.
According to VolcanoDiscovery, the strongest earthquake recorded near Gerik since 1900 measured 3.6 in magnitude, striking 51 kilometres north-east of Ipoh in November 1997. The latest tremor is the only quake recorded near Gerik in the past month, though it comes amid a notable uptick in seismic activity across the peninsula this year.
Earthquakes are uncommon in Peninsular Malaysia, which sits outside the Pacific Ring of Fire. The country’s seismic activity is more frequent in Sabah and Sarawak, where tectonic plate boundaries are closer. Still, the cluster of minor tremors in the peninsula this year shows that the region is not entirely immune to seismic movement.
Hulu Perak, a vast and largely forested district bordering Thailand, is one of Perak’s most sparsely populated areas. Temenggor, a principal settlement within the district, is known for its reservoir and surrounding rainforest. Local authorities have not issued any evacuation orders following the earthquake, and no tsunami threat has been identified.
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake is generally considered weak, often felt by people indoors but unlikely to cause serious damage to well-built structures. MetMalaysia has urged the public to remain calm and follow official updates through the department’s website and social media channels. No aftershocks have been recorded since the initial tremor.
