Segamat: A series of minor tremors in Johor over the past eight days has prompted experts to propose a more comprehensive approach to monitoring and analysing building structures such as government offices, bridges, and houses.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dr Mohd Zamri Ramli, highlighted that although the tremors were categorised as weak, the cumulative effect of repeated earthquakes could cause progressive cracks in building structures.
Dr Mohd Zamri explained that the initial earthquake might not have a significant impact, but the occurrence of several aftershocks could exacerbate the spread of cracks, a condition known as progressive cracking. He emphasized the importance of public education efforts on how to identify and monitor cracks in houses to ensure communities are better prepared and more aware of early signs of structural damage. This awareness is crucial to ensure residents’ safety, especially if stronger tremors occur in the future.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr Mariyana Aida Ab Kadir, a senior lecturer from the same faculty, noted that most of the reported damage involved only surface areas, such as plaster and external finishes, rather than main structures like columns. She advocated for systematic monitoring to be carried out not only by authorities such as the Public Works Department but also encouraged among building owners. Dr Mariyana warned that small cracks might seem harmless but could indicate structural weakness, especially in inadequately engineered buildings like village houses.
Recently, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan reported that the earthquakes recorded in Segamat since August 24 had caused minor cracks in five government buildings in the district. Five tremors were documented, beginning with the first at 6.13 am on August 24 with a magnitude of 4.1, followed by subsequent quakes on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the following Saturday with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 3.4. Additionally, a tremor with a magnitude of 2.8 was recorded in Yong Peng, 28 kilometres northwest of Kluang, on August 24.