16/8/2021

DAY 1

OVERVIEW OF EARTHQUAKES AND

SEISMICITY ENVIRONMENT OF MALAYSIA

Dr. Daniel LOOI

PhD (HKU) | MIEAust CPEng (Structural)
Senior Lecturer, Course Coordinator for Civil Engineering
Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak campus)
dlooi@swinburne.edu.my
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CONTENTS

1. Earthquake overview
2. Seismicity in the world
3. Seismicity of Malaysia

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THE OCCURRENCE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

An earthquake requires two conditions to occur:

1. High stresses in the earth crust; and
2. Weakness occurring in the form of fault lines which
can be ruptured.

Suddenly rupture

Weak zone

WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE?

An earthquake usually associates with the releasing energy in

earth’s crust in the form of waves that travel through the rock
to cause the shaking.
It can be caused by a sudden slip on a fault, volcanic eruption or
other sudden stress changes in the earth’s crust.

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DISASTER TIMESCALES FOR EARTHQUAKE AND TYPHOON

Stage Hurricane/Typhoon Earthquake

Warning 5-10 hours None
Impact 5 hours 1 min
Rescue 10 days 10 days
Recovery 1 year 1-10 years
Remedy 1-5 year 10-50 years

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES

2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Ground surface rupture

and displacement along
a fault
Shih-Kang Dam
1999 Chichi earthquake
Running track at Wu Feng

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PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES

Consequences to our natural environment:

1999 Chichi earthquake
Ground Failures
1964 Niigata earthquake
Soil liquefaction
and soil boil
Differential ground settlement
2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Dense soil

Loose soil

Landslide at Beichuan

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES

Consequences to our natural environment:

1995 Kobe earthquake
Ground Shaking

2008 Wenchuan earthquake

1999 Chichi earthquake

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PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES

Tsunamis
Strong earthquake (M > 7) 2011 Near the East Coast of Honshu
Japan Earthquake
Occur at deep ocean

As the sea depth decreases, the wavelength decreases. At the same time, the height of the wave
increases.
If caught by a tsunami wave, it is better not to swim, but rather to grab a floating object and allow the
current to carry you.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES

Consequences to our man-made environment:

1. Damage to (or collapse of) buildings,
bridges and other structures
2. Disruption of transportation, communication,
power and water supply and sewer systems
3. Falling and overturning of objects inside and
outside of buildings
4. Fires from tank failures and gas pipeline
breaks
5. Floods resulting from dam failures
6. Chemical and radioactive leaks

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CONTENTS

1. Earthquake overview
2. Seismicity in the world
3. Seismicity of Malaysia

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WORLD MAP

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PLATE BOUNDARIES

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PAST EARTHQUAKES

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THE WORLD’S EARTHQUAKE COUNTRIES IN THE 20TH CENTURY

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THE MOST LETHAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE 20TH CENTURY

The deadliest
earthquake in history is
the 1556 Shaanxi,
China (陕西 in Chinese)
M8 earthquake
estimated to have killed
830,000 people.

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10 LARGEST EARTHQUAKES IN THE WORLD SINCE 1900

(SOURCE: USGS NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION CENTER)

Mw = Moment Magnitude
1) Chile, May 22, 1960 9.5 Mw
2) Alaska, Mar 28, 1964 9.2 Mw
3) Indonesia, Dec 26, 2004 9.1 Mw
4) Japan, Mar 11, 2011 9.0 Mw
5) Russia, Nov 4, 1952 9.0 Mw
6) Chile, Feb 27, 2010 8.8 Mw
7) Ecuador, Jan 31, 1906 8.8 Mw
8) Alaska, Feb 4, 1965 8.7 Mw
9) Indonesia, Mar 28, 2005 8.6 Mw
10) China, Aug 15, 1950 8.6 Mw

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RING OF FIRE

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RING OF FIRE (SOURCE: USGS)

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QUESTION TO PONDER

Do you see the relationship

between the ring of fire and
earthquakes?

Do earthquakes happen
outside of ring of fire? www.Vectorstock.com

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INTERPLATE AND INTRAPLATE EARTHQUAKES

1. Interplate earthquakes, occurring along the edges of the interacting

plates, contribute more than 90% of the world’s release of seismic energy.
Most of the world’s largest earthquakes have originated in the subduction
regions as a result of the thrusting of one plate under another.
Examples: California, Chile, Indonesia, Japan
 High-seismicity regions
2. Earthquakes may also occur within the plate, termed as intraplate
earthquakes. The magnitude of these earthquakes is limited, but they
may cause fatal destruction if they occur near vulnerable urban areas.
Examples: Malaysia, Australia, Central and Eastern North America (Stable
Continental Regions)  Low-to-moderate-seismicity regions

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PLATE BOUNDARIES – THEY “MOVE”

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TYPES OF FAULT MOVEMENT

Generate M5 to
M7 earthquakes

Subduction fault

Generate M9 mega
earthquakes

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CONTENTS

1. Earthquake overview
2. Seismicity in the world
3. Seismicity of Malaysia

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GENERAL SEISMIC ENVIRONMENT OF MALAYSIA

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PENINSULAR MALAYSIA (INTERPLATE)

DISTANT EARTHQUAKES
(M9 R600 subduction;
M8 R400 fault)

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QUESTION TO PONDER

Yes, we know about Sumatra interplate

earthquakes that affect the Peninsular.

So, there is no local intraplate earthquake

in Malaysia (except Sabah)? www.Vectorstock.com

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PENINSULAR MALAYSIA (INTRAPLATE)

LOCAL
EARTHQUAKES
(max. M5)

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SARAWAK (INTERPLATE)

DISTANT EARTHQUAKES (>400 km)

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SARAWAK (INTRAPLATE)

LOCAL
EARTHQUAKES
(max. M5)

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SABAH (INTERPLATE AND INTRAPLATE)

Active LOCAL
EARTHQUAKES
(max. M6)

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END OF DAY 1

OVERVIEW OF EARTHQUAKES AND

SEISMICITY ENVIRONMENT OF MALAYSIA

Dr. Daniel LOOI

PhD (HKU) | MIEAust CPEng (Structural)
Senior Lecturer, Course Coordinator for Civil Engineering
Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak campus)
dlooi@swinburne.edu.my
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