KOTA KINABALU (Sept 27): The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) is keeping a round-the-clock watch on earthquake activity in Sabah via 28 seismic stations statewide.

MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the monitoring enables the department to detect and analyse earthquakes swiftly.

He said the seismic stations closest to the epicentre are Sapulut, 57.23 kilometres away; Keningau (66.51 kilometres); Sandakan/Telupid (74.36 kilometres); Matupang (76.67 kilometres); and Tenom (93.32 kilometres).

"Quake information will be disseminated within six minutes of detection, subject to data availability. To date, there is still no technology capable of predicting earthquakes," he said in a statement Sunday.

The statement follows a weak magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck Kuamut, Kinabatangan, at 5.32am on Saturday (Sept 26).

Mohd Hisham said earthquakes cannot be predicted in terms of time, location or magnitude, and seismic stations only serve to detect and determine a quake's magnitude after the event.

He said tsunami threats, meanwhile, can be assessed based on earthquake magnitude and related monitoring data.

"If there is a potential tsunami threat, MetMalaysia will issue the relevant information and warnings," he said.

He said installing additional seismic stations or sensors at a given location can strengthen local monitoring coverage and capability, but this does not mean earthquakes can be predicted earlier.

"MetMalaysia will continue to monitor seismic activity in Sabah and channel fast, accurate and verified information to the public and relevant agencies," he said.

In light of this, the public is advised to obtain information on earthquakes and tsunamis only through MetMalaysia's official channels.

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