Tsunami alert lifted in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Meteorological Department has lifted the tsunami alert it issued for the coastal areas of Perlis, Penang and Kedah following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in North Sumatra.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, it said that it lifted the alert because only a small tsunami had occurred in Sumatra following the quake.

The earthquake had hit North Sumatera, 448km southwest of Pangkor Island Wednesday morning. Tremors were felt in the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

The department had earlier warned people to keep away from the beach, The Star reports.

In George Town, state Meteorological Department director Loh Eng Kee said the tsunami alert was called off at 8.20 am (local time) as Sumatra had only experienced a small tsunami.

“A tsunami alert was issued in Penang, Perlis and Kedah at 6.45am following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the sea of northern Sumatra.

“The National Security Council, police, the Chief Minister’s Office and the State Secretariat were informed of the situation.

“After monitoring sea conditions, our headquarters in Petaling Jaya issued a cancellation of the alert after only a small tsunami touched the coast of Sumatra,” Loh said.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was briefed on the tsunami alert at the department in Bayan Lepas, said the relevant departments responded swiftly to the alert.We are thankful that there was no tsunami,” he said.

Tremors due to the earthquake shook high-rise buildings on Penang island including those on Macallum Street, Rifle Range and Sungai Ara causing fear among residents.

The Indonesia Meteorology and Geophysics Agency also issued a tsunami warning following the quake, but lifted it two hours later. (ANI)