Early morning earthquake rattles Johor towns, sparking memories of Malaysia’s seismic history
A mild magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck Johor before dawn on August 24, shaking Segamat and nearby towns. While no casualties or property damage were reported, the tremors startled residents and renewed discussion about Malaysia’s vulnerability to seismic activity.
Dawn Quake Jolts Johor
The earthquake hit at 6:13am with its epicentre located 5km west of Segamat at a depth of 10km, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia). Tremors were felt across Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and southern Pahang.
Segamat resident Yvonne Liu, 52, said the shaking was so intense it felt “like a dinosaur had passed by my house.” Dogs barked anxiously, and neighbours rushed outside, she told The Straits Times.
Aftershock in Kluang
Nearly three hours later, a weaker 2.8-magnitude quake was recorded in Kluang, another Johor city north of Singapore. Authorities confirmed there were no injuries or structural damage in either incident. Segamat district officer Mohd Ezzuddin Sanusi said security agencies are monitoring closely to ensure public safety.
Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged residents to stay away from unstable structures and follow official guidance. He also asked the public to pray for Johor and Malaysia to be spared from disasters.
Government Calls for Calm
Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), cautioned against spreading misinformation. “Avoid spreading fake news that can create confusion,” he said, urging the public to rely only on updates from MetMalaysia.
Seismic Risks in Malaysia
Although Peninsular Malaysia is considered a region of low seismic activity, history shows it is not immune. Johor experienced its strongest recorded quake in January 1922, a 5.4-magnitude tremor, followed by another of magnitude 5 the next month. Between late 2007 and early 2008, 13 quakes occurred along the Bukit Tinggi fault zone spanning Selangor and Pahang.
More recently, Sabah in East Malaysia has seen stronger quakes, including the 2015 Mount Kinabalu tragedy where a 5.9-magnitude quake killed 18 people, among them 10 Singaporeans.
Expert Views on Preparedness
Geologist Abd Rasid Jaapar, president of the National Association for GeoDisaster and Community Resilience Malaysia, said earthquakes in Malaysia remain far less intense compared to Japan and Indonesia. However, he stressed the importance of preparedness. “It is timely for the government to incorporate a disaster risk management programme in the school curriculum to educate people from a young age,” he told ST.
Community Resilience Amid Tremors
Local residents described how quickly life returned to normal after the quake. Segamat eatery owner Zulbahrin Mohamed said he felt the tremors while cooking breakfast but continued working without disruption. “Thank God, business went on as usual,” he said.
The Johor quake serves as a reminder that even countries outside the Pacific Ring of Fire are not fully insulated from seismic events. For Malaysians, Singaporeans, and Indonesians living nearby, the incident highlights the need for vigilance, resilience, and disaster preparedness in a region where tectonic risks, though rare, cannot be ignored.
Sources: Mothership (2025) , Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Johor Earthquake, Segamat Tremors, Malaysia Seismic Activity, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Zahid Hamidi, Disaster Preparedness
