Tasik Kenyir Quake

A mild earthquake with a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale occurred at 11.10pm Thursday, causing mild tremors that was felt within the Tasik Kenyir area.

The earthquake which had its epicenter at 43km Southwest of Kuala Terengganu and 22km West of Kuala Berang, Terengganu was the second in more than 20 years.

Malaysian Meteorological Department's (MMD) Geophysics and Tsunami division director Dr Mohd Rosaidi Che Abas said the recent earthquake might be linked to the one that occurred in the same area in 1980 or may have been caused by the release of tectonic gas.

Dr Rosaidi said Kenyir was hit by a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in the 1980s when the Kenyir Dam was being filled.

"The earthquake last night may have been linked to the one that happened 20 years ago or the release of tectonic gas from the gas bearing basin or the plate tectonic setting in Terengganu," he said when contacted by Bernama Thursday.

He added that since it was the first case since the 1980s, his department would work closely with the Mineral and Geosciences Department to find the actual cause of the quake.

People should not worry as the 2.6 scale earthquake was a mild one, he said. - Bernama