Rare deep M7.1 earthquake hits beneath the Sulu Sea near Sabah, Malaysia
A powerful and deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.1 struck off the coast of Kota Belud, Malaysia, at 16:57 UTC on February 22, 2026. The agency reported a depth of 620 km (385 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. Due to the great depth, no tsunami was generated, and damage is unlikely. This is the largest earthquake recorded near Malaysia since the M6.6 quake in Lahad Datu in 1923.
Epicenter of M7.1 earthquake in Sabah, Malaysia on February 22, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 56 km (35 miles) NNW of Kota Belud (population 12 825), 62 km (39 miles) W of Kudat (population 32 393), and 97 km (60 miles) NNE of Kota Kinabalu (population 500 421), Sabah, Malaysia.
The quake was felt across northern Borneo, southern Philippines, and Brunei, with reported intensities ranging from light to moderate.
6 034 000 people are estimated to have felt moderate shaking, and 78 281 000 light.
Based on the earthquake’s depth and parameters, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake, according to the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC).
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick with concrete floor and precast concrete frame with wall construction.
This earthquake occurred within the complex tectonic boundary between the Sunda and Philippine Sea plates. Deep intraslab earthquakes of this type are rare beneath Borneo but can produce wide-area shaking. EMSC maps show the epicenter beneath the Sulu Sea north of Borneo, close to regional seismic zones associated with the Sulu and Philippine Trenches.
Malaysia has recorded fewer than five earthquakes above magnitude 6 in its instrumental history. All occurred in Sabah, including the M6.0 Ranau event of June 4, 2015, which caused 18 deaths and 11 injuries due to rockfalls on Mount Kinabalu. The current M7.1 event is the largest recorded near Malaysia since the M6.6 quake in Lahad Datu in 1923.
Given the depth and mechanism, further significant seismic activity is considered unlikely.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M7.1 earthquake Sabah, Malaysia – USGS – February 22, 2026
2 M7.1 earthquake Sabah, Malaysia – EMSC – February 22, 2026
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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