A series of minor tremors in Johor over the past eight days has prompted experts to call for a more comprehensive approach to monitoring and analysing building structures, including government offices, bridges and homes.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) civil engineering lecturer Zamri Ramli said that while the tremors were classified as weak, repeated quakes could lead to progressive cracking in buildings.
“The first earthquake may not have a major impact, but if several aftershocks occur, cracks can spread further. This is known as progressive cracking,” he told Bernama after conducting a site survey with a research team following the tremors here.
He also urged public awareness programmes to educate residents on how to detect and monitor cracks in their homes so that communities are better prepared for potential risks.
“This is important to ensure residents’ safety, especially if stronger tremors occur in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, fellow UTM lecturer Mariyana Aida Kadir noted that while most reported damage so far involved only surface finishes, such as wall plaster, it was still necessary to conduct systematic monitoring.
“Small cracks may seem harmless but they can be an early indicator of structural weakness, particularly in buildings not designed with proper engineering, such as village houses,” she said.
She added that monitoring should not only be carried out by the relevant authorities, such as the public works department (JKR), but also encouraged among property owners.
Deputy works minister Ahmad Maslan was reported to have said that the earthquakes in Segamat since Aug 24 had caused only minor cracks in five government buildings in the district.
Five tremors were recorded in Segamat, starting with a 4.1-magnitude quake at 6.13am on Aug 24, followed by quakes measuring 3.2 (8.59am Wednesday), 2.5 (7.56pm Thursday), 3.4 (4.24am Friday) and 2.7 (7.29am Saturday).
Another tremor, measuring 2.8, was recorded in Yong Peng, 28km northwest of Kluang, on Aug 24.
