{
  "id": 1159685,
  "title": "Tremors in Semporna, Tawau after 6.1-magnitude quake hits Sulawesi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/tremors-in-semporna-tawau-after-6-1-magnitude-quake-hits-sulawesi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T00:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/16/tremors-in-semporna-tawau-after-6-1-magnitude-quake-hits-sulawesi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Minahassa peninsula in Sulawesi, Indonesia, early today, causing tremors to be felt in several areas of Sabah. The meteorological department, MetMalaysia, reported the quake's epicenter at coordinates 0.1 degrees South and 120.6 degrees East, situated at a depth of 10km, approximately 116km northeast of Palu. MetMalaysia confirmed that the tremors did not pose a tsunami threat to Malaysia. In a Facebook post, MetMalaysia also reported that the earthquake caused tremors in Tawau, Lahad Datu, and Semporna. Earlier, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake had hit northern Sumatra, Indonesia, followed by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Flores Island, both of which caused significant damage and loss of life. In Penang, the fire and rescue department reported tremors in nine locations across all five districts between 7.23pm and 7.27pm yesterday, as well as in Perak.",
  "summary": "MetMalaysia says the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to Malaysia.",
  "key_points": [
    "6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Minahassa peninsula in Sulawesi.",
    "Tremors felt in Sabah areas including Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna.",
    "No tsunami threat to Malaysia reported by MetMalaysia."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The quake in Sulawesi has extended Malaysia's recent seismic activity, with Sabah's Semporna, Tawau, and Lahad Datu among areas experiencing tremors, though no tsunami threat was posed.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Tremors in Semporna, Tawau after 6.1-magnitude quake hits Sulawesi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/tremors-in-semporna-tawau-after-6-1-magnitude-quake-hits-sulawesi-1162684",
        "published": "2026-08-16T00:46:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Sulawesi past midnight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/magnitude-6-1-earthquake-hits-sulawesi-past-midnight",
        "published": "2026-08-16T01:28:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}