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Powerful Quake Strikes Sumatra

Apr 25, 2023

Tremors were likely felt along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia due to a powerful earthquake in Indonesia early this morning.

The Met Department says the magnitude seven quake struck off Sumatra at around 4am, but posed no tsunami threat to Malaysia.

However, a tsunami alert was briefly issued for local residents in west Sumatra, with no reports yet of casualties or significant damage there.

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A level-one heat alert is currently in effect for four areas in Kelantan, as well as two locations in Sabah and one each in Terengganu, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

This, as the Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department says its keeping a close eye on forest areas for possible fires during the current hot and dry spell.

Meanwhile, authorities in Sarawak have been placed on alert to monitor water supply in the state, amid the current hot weather.

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A dozen cases involving the new Arcturus subvariant of Covid-19 have been detected in the country.

The Health Minister says six of these infections were in Sarawak…with four in Selangor and two in KL.

Dr Zaliha Mustafa adds that the risk of infection is lower than earlier subvariants, with no added pressure to the country’s health facilities.

Arcturus – which has been classified by the WHO as a variant of interest - has so far been detected in 30 other countries.