A 3.4-magnitude earthquake was detected 10 kilometers west of Keningau, Sabah, at 9:31 a.m. on September 3, 2026, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to authorities [1, 2, 3]. The epicenter was located at 5.3 degrees North and 116.1 degrees East [1, 2, 3].
Tremors from the quake were felt in Keningau and its surrounding areas. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) had received 436 public reports of the tremors by 11:30 a.m. today. "As for 11:30 a.m., MetMalaysia received a total of 436 reports of tremors felt by members of the public nearby," said Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability [2].
The earthquake was described as a weak seismic event that forms part of local tectonic energy release. Similar weak quakes were recorded in Keningau in 2019, 2023, and October 2024, the minister added. He said, "Today’s incident is part of the release of local tectonic energy in the region" and that "MetMalaysia would continue to closely monitor any aftershock activity in the area and provide the latest updates from time to time" [2].
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department carried out patrols and inspections between 9:40 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. around Keningau to ensure public safety and reported no structural damage, injuries, fires, or collapses [2]. The department confirmed no damage following their evaluations.
MetMalaysia advised the public not to panic and confirmed there was no tsunami threat from the earthquake. Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said, "The earthquake was of a weak magnitude and did not pose a tsunami threat" [2].
Authorities are urging the public to complete an online MetMalaysia questionnaire to report their tremor experiences, aiding in ongoing monitoring efforts [1, 3].
