Kuala Lumpur - Several areas along Malaysia's western coast, including Kuala Lumpur, were hit by tremors Thursday as aftershocks followed a magnitude-8.4 earthquake on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The capital city's fire and rescue department received more than 50 calls from frantic residents of high-rise buildings after tremors shook both residential apartments and corporate buildings in the city, a department spokesman said.
"So far, the situation is under control," the spokesman was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. "Nevertheless, we are monitoring the situation closely."
Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their offices and were given clearance to re-enter after about 45 minutes, during which inspections were conducted on the structure of the buildings.
Rosaidi Che Abas, director of the seismology division of Malaysia's Meteorological Department, confirmed that several tremors had been felt on the western coast of Malaysia from late Wednesday to early Thursday after the initial quake struck Sumatra Wednesday evening.
"Usually, after a big earthquake, it will be followed by several tremors for several weeks; however, the aftershocks are normally smaller," Rosaidi said. "We expect the aftershocks to continue and be felt in peninsular Malaysia with weaker magnitudes. The situation will continue and the public need not worry."
The aftershocks following the initial quake have measured as high as 7.8.
Engineers from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall have inspected most high-rise buildings in the city and have issued safety clearances.
Thousands of people dashed out of office buildings and their homes Wednesday night when the tremors hit Kuala Lumpur, including its central business district.
No damage, injuries or law and order problems have been reported, police said.
