Earthquake Now: Live Magnitude Updates, Epicenter Map & Urgent Safety Tips

A powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck beneath the South China Sea just off Sabah, Malaysia, at 00:57 a.m. local time on 23 February 2026, jolting residents across Borneo and sending light tremors as far as Brunei and Sarawak. According to the US Geological Survey, the hypocentre lay about 620 km deep—far below typical crustal quakes—which helped dissipate energy upward and reduced the risk of surface damage or tsunami generation. Malaysia’s meteorological agency confirmed no tsunami warning and reported no immediate injuries, though authorities are inspecting critical infrastructure and urging the public to remain alert for aftershocks. Why this earthquake matters now • “Earthquake now” searches are spiking as Southeast Asia grapples with an event exceeding the country’s 2015 Ranau disaster, previously Malaysia’s strongest on record (M 6.0). • Deep-focus quakes of this size can rattle wide areas—even cities hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre—because seismic waves travel efficiently through the mantle. • Sabah sits near the complex boundary of the Philippine and Sunda plates, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that, while quieter than Indonesia’s arc to the south, is capable of rare high-magnitude shocks. Regional tremors felt Residents in Kota Kinabalu described ceiling lamps swaying for nearly 30 seconds, while social media users in Brunei reported “gentle shakes” just after 1 a.m. local time. Emergency hotlines were briefly inundated, but most calls related to anxiety rather than damage, officials said. Global seismic uptick Today’s Malaysian quake headlines a burst of worldwide seismicity: • M 6.5 quake near Loei, northern Thailand, minutes earlier at 00:07 a.m. Bangkok time, felt in Vientiane and Chiang Mai but causing no major damage. • M 6.1 event in the Bering Sea southwest of Nikolski, Alaska, on 22 February evening local time; the US Tsunami Warning Center issued no alert. • A cluster of moderate M 4–5 tremors rippled across Fiji, Tonga, Peru, and Russia’s Kuril Islands, keeping the global seismic activity level at “Very High”. Safety checklist for readers searching “latest earthquake now” 1. Drop, Cover, Hold On if you feel strong shaking—don’t run outside. 2. Keep a battery-powered radio or phone alerts app for rapid updates. 3. Inspect gas lines, electrical wiring, and water pipes after any quake. 4. Store a 72-hour emergency kit: water, non-perishable food, flashlight, medicines. 5. Follow official agencies—MetMalaysia, USGS, and local disaster offices—for verified information. Outlook Seismologists note that deep quakes like Sabah’s seldom trigger damaging aftershocks, but neighbouring plate boundaries remain active. With “earthquake now” interest peaking, experts urge consistent preparedness: even when the epicentre is hundreds of kilometres offshore, the next major event could occur much closer to home.