Strongest Earthquake in 11 Years Jolts Malaysia – What We Know So Far

The Malaysian state of Sabah experienced its strongest earthquake during the early morning hours of February 23, 2026. The seismic event has gained widespread attention because it produces an uncommon level of seismic activity and reaches exceptional underground depths while people throughout the region report experiencing its effects.

In this blog, we will provide you with information through a complete fact-checked breakdown of this natural disaster.

Quake Overview: Magnitude, Timing & Location

• A powerful earthquake measuring up to 7.1 in magnitude was recorded early Monday (Feb 23) near Sabah’s coast in eastern Malaysia. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake at 7.1.
• Malaysian officials (MetMalaysia) measured the event at 6.8 in magnitude, which is still extraordinarily strong and the highest in Malaysia since 2015.
• The tremor struck at approximately 12:57 am local time on Feb 23, 2026.
• The epicentre was located off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, roughly 50–100 km north-northeast of the city, in the South China Sea near Sabah’s northeastern waters.

Depth & Why That Matters

One of the most distinctive features of this earthquake was its depth beneath the Earth’s surface:

• Depth of 620–680 km below the surface, far deeper than most damaging earthquakes.
• Such depth places it in the category of a “deep-focus earthquake”, that means energy is released far below where people live. This significantly reduces surface damage risk despite the high magnitude.

Deep earthquakes produce energy that travels across larger areas while their surface shaking remains weaker which helps explain why there have been no major damage reports so far.

Is It Really the Strongest Since 2015?

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has verified that this earthquake ranks among the strongest earthquakes which have been documented in Malaysia during the last 11 years.

The major event of June 5th, 2015, at 6.0 magnitude Ranau earthquake tragically took 18 lives and caused severe damage.

Why It Happened: Causes Explained

According to geological experts:

• The quake likely resulted from tectonic interactions between the Indo-Australian, Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates in the region.
• Such deep tremors occur when a subducted oceanic slab bends or shifts under immense pressure deep within the Earth’s mantle.
• Expect shallower quakes, deep earthquakes do not originate from near-surface fault lines, so the shaking felt at ground level is milder despite a high moment magnitude.

What Residents Felt?

Although the quake struck deep below the surface, residents in Sabah and even neighbouring countries reported feeling it:

• Many reported tremors lasting around 5–10 seconds overnight.
• Minor ground motions were also detected in parts of Singapore, where monitoring stations recorded slight seismic activity.

The investigation has not found any confirmed instances of serious structural destruction or human fatalities. Emergency services and rescue teams have been patrolling affected areas as a precaution.

No Tsunami Risk & Aftershock Outlook

Local authorities and international agencies have confirmed that no tsunami warning exists because the earthquake occurred at an offshore site with deep seismic activity.

Deep earthquakes produce fewer aftershocks than shallow earthquakes, although aftershocks still remain possible. The officials maintain their active surveillance of all seismic activities.

What This Means for Malaysia

Even though Malaysia is not typically associated with major earthquakes like Indonesia, events of this scale show that powerful seismic events can occur due to regional tectonics.

Sabah and other parts of Malaysia remain under ongoing seismic monitoring, emphasising preparedness and public reporting of tremors.

Conclusion

The February 23, 2026 earthquake off Sabah’s coast stands as Malaysia’s strongest in 11 years, with a magnitude of up to 7.1 and a deep underground source that helped mitigate severe surface damage.

The situation remains under close observation by Malaysian authorities and geological experts because there exists no tsunami threat and there have been no reports of significant damage. The event demonstrates how essential earthquake preparedness needs to be developed for areas which experience low risk of surface earthquakes.

For more live updates, visit Disaster Sites to get continuous disaster response information.