Stronger earthquakes might be imminent in Malaysia, a disaster expert cautions after the recent tremors in Johor.
In recent weeks, the southern Malaysian state of Johor has been shaken by a series of earthquakes, serving as a stark reminder of the potential seismic risks facing the country.
Despite these developments, many Malaysians still harbour the misconception that their country is immune to earthquakes. This belief, however, is increasingly being challenged by the series of tremors experienced in Johor.
The most recent of these earthquakes occurred on September 3, with a magnitude of 2.9, near Sri Medan, Parit Sulong. This incident followed a 4.1 magnitude quake in Segamat on August 24.
These seismic activities have raised concerns among experts, with disaster management expert Raja Segaran Kuppusamy urging a more holistic approach at state, district, and grassroots levels to raise awareness about seismic risks.
Raja Segaran highlighted that failure to implement prevention, mitigation, and preparedness plans may lead to an increased risk of bigger disasters such as tsunamis, landslides, and stronger quakes in the future. He emphasised the importance of integrating seismic considerations into building design to ensure safety during earthquakes and tsunamis.
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has taken steps to address this issue, requiring all stakeholders to adopt safety design standards that can protect lives during quakes and tsunamis.
However, it appears that many engineers still overlook seismic considerations in building design, assuming Malaysia to be safe. This oversight could have dire consequences, as stronger quakes could trigger landslides, floods, tsunamis, and severe damage to roads, bridges, and high-rise buildings.
Raja Segaran also pointed out that public awareness on seismic risks in Malaysia is low. He cited examples from Middle Eastern countries, Japan, and China, where communication with communities and close cooperation between authorities and citizens have been instrumental in building resilience to natural disasters.
The shifting tectonic plates are altering local geological conditions in Malaysia, making it increasingly important for the country to be prepared for potential seismic events. Natural disasters can be mitigated with preparedness, awareness, and stronger building standards.
Unfortunately, the search results do not provide the name of the head of the department for disaster management in Malaysia responsible for seismic aspects in construction projects. Despite this gap, the call for increased seismic awareness and preparedness in Malaysia is clear and urgent.
In conclusion, the recent earthquakes in Johor serve as a wake-up call for Malaysians to take seismic risks seriously. By adopting safety measures in building design, raising public awareness, and cooperating with authorities, Malaysia can build resilience to natural disasters and protect its citizens from potential harm.
