Deep-Sea 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Sabah at 1 a.m.

By Danial Martinus • 23 Feb 2026 in News

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(source: Sabah Fire & Rescue Department & MetMalaysia)

Just before 1 a.m. on 23 February, a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern tip of Sabah, just 49km west of Kudat.

The quake, which struck at a depth of 678km, wasn’t violent in any sense of the word, but it was definitely felt.

Tremors felt across the region

Residents across Sabah, Sarawak, parts of Peninsular Malaysia, and even neighbouring countries like Brunei and Singapore reported feeling a strange, rolling sensation that lasted about 10 seconds. Some social media users say they felt their bed shaking, while others were simply nudged awake by tremors.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), there’s no tsunami threat, considering the depth of the earthquake.

But there are conflicting numbers, evident in reports coming from the US Geological Survey (USGS), which rated the earthquake at a slightly higher 7.1 magnitude. This is normal, though, since minor variations often happen when different agencies analyse seismic data.

(source: Sabah Fire & Rescue Department)

On the ground in Sabah, it’s basically business as usual, with Fire and Rescue Department stations carrying out patrols to check for structural damage. At the time of writing, no emergency calls linked to the earthquake have been made, according to the department’s Operation Control Centre.

MetMalaysia says it will continue to monitor seismic activity closely, urging those who felt the tremors to submit details via an online form for data collection purposes.