KOTA KINABALU: Residents of Kota Kinabalu and nearby Putatan faced a tense 10 seconds of fear at midnight as an earthquake rattled the waters off the coast, sending waves of panic through the area. The ceiling fan in the living room swung violently, and picture frames shook. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) reported a 6.8-magnitude earthquake off Kota Kinabalu at 12.57am Monday (Feb 23), with no tsunami threat. "The tremor lasted around 10 seconds, but the swaying forced me to hold onto the corridor railing. The tremor was widely felt by residents in Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas, especially those living in high-rise buildings.

Source: The Star February 23, 2026 05:14 UTC