A powerful offshore quake triggered panic among residents and tourists after shaking buildings and sending people into the streets.

08:14, 23 Feb 2026

A powerful earthquake has struck a well-known tourist region, triggering alarm among residents and visitors across the area. The strong tremor hit offshore but was felt widely, with reports of buildings swaying and people rushing outside.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake occurred off the coast of Malaysia. Seismic data showed a magnitude 7.1 event — nearly twice as strong as the quake that shook homes in Forlì in January.

The earthquake was detected near the Malaysian state of Sabah, at the northern tip of Borneo, at 4:57pm (11:57pm local time), reports the Daily Star.

The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre also reported the event on social media, noting preliminary data indicating a magnitude 7.1 quake about 62 kilometres west of Kudat.

Later updates from the USGS placed the epicentre roughly 55 kilometres northwest of Kota Belud at a depth of 619.8 kilometres beneath the South China Sea. Local media said tremors were felt along Sabah’s west coast and in parts of neighbouring Sarawak.

Home to about 3.76 million people, Sabah is one of Malaysia’s most populous and second-largest states. It attracts large numbers of tourists thanks to its striking landscapes, wildlife, renowned diving sites and coastal resorts.

So far, it remains unclear whether the quake caused damage or injuries. The event comes after another significant tremor struck a popular travel destination earlier this year.

Panic broke out when a magnitude 5.1 earthquake was recorded in the southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria and across Sicily. Residents reported feeling the ground shake at 5:53am on January 10. The epicentre was located about 65 kilometres beneath the sea off the Ionian Sea, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. Despite the scare, no injuries or damage were reported.

Domenico Costarella, head of civil protection for the Calabria region, told Sky TG24 that inspections around the epicentre had been completed. “Fortunately, no damage has been reported,” he said, noting that while residents clearly felt the quake and many contacted authorities, the situation remained under control.

Closer to the UK, two minor earthquakes struck Lancashire within a fortnight in December 2025, shaking nearby homes. The British Geological Survey reported a magnitude 2.5 tremor near the coastal village of Silverdale in the early hours of December 19, following a magnitude 3.3 quake on December 4 that was felt across the South Lakes and parts of Lancashire.

Article continues below

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE