Segamat quake: Imam, congregants escape falling ceiling plaster

SEGAMAT: An early morning earthquake shook parts of the district today, startling Muslims at several surau when ceiling plaster collapsed during Subuh prayers.

Imam of Surau Kampung Sanglang, Saniman Abd Jamal, 76, recounted his experience in the 6.15am incident.

“As soon as we ended our prayers, we were shocked by a loud bang.

“Suddenly, the ceiling plaster came crashing down, luckily it didn’t hit us,” he said.

He said he and several congregants were giving salam, when strong tremors struck several surrounding areas.

“We were stunned for a moment as the ceiling plaster fell piece by piece beside us.

“We froze and didn’t move from our prayer spots.

“The sound was unusual, not like a bomb, and then we heard something like footsteps on the roof.

“It all happened in just a few seconds,” he said.

He said it was the most terrifying experience he had gone through in about 50 years of living in the village.

Another imam, Mohd Johan Hassan, 58, from Surau Batu 2, Kampung Tengai, also went through the same situation while performing Subuh prayers with his congregation.

“The tremors were felt during the first rakaat of Subuh prayers.

“At that time, I was a congregant, and the imam was reciting Surah Al-Mulk, verse eight, which coincidentally describes the quake of the hellfire.

“Myself and the congregation felt the tremors on the floor and heard a loud sound from the roof, but we continued our prayers until completion.

“Afterwards, we asked each other about the tremors as it was the first time we had experienced such an event in the 20 years I’ve been living here.

“I also checked the surau thoroughly for any damage because the sound was like an object falling,” he said.

Resident Saadiah Abd Jamal, 76, also felt the tremors while reciting zikr after performing Subuh prayers.

She said she was startled and anxious as she did not know where the strong tremors came from.

“The second tremor came at 9am but it only lasted a few seconds.

“Only then did I realise it was actually an earthquake in the village,” said Saadiah, who has lived there for 70 years.

A mild earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 was detected in Segamat at 6.13am.

No casualties or property damage have been reported so far.

Based on recorded data, the tremor occurred in the district, about 180 kilometres from the state capital.

The tremors were also felt across many areas in Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and southern Pahang.

The Meteorological Department said it would continue monitoring and release updates from time to time.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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