Many people living along the coast in Tawau panicked last night after watching the news on television of earthquakes in the Celebes sea, fearing that they could spark a tsunami.

The people most affected by the news were villagers in Kampung Kinabutan and Kampung Batu Payung.

A Kampung Kinabutan resident Azman Abdul Rahim, 39, said he saw many people coming out of their houses after learning of the quakes.

"Panic set in between 11.30pm and midnight. However, I noticed that the sea was calm," he told Bernama.

The Meteorological Department in Kuala Lumpur had reported two earthquakes, of magnitude 6.3 and 6.7 on the Richter scale, in the Celebes sea of Indonesia at 10.39pm and 10.42pm respectively.

"It said tremors were felt in southeastern Sabah.

Azman said he and the 10 other members of his family were undeterred and continued to watch television to learn of the latest developments.

Meanwhile, Tawau police chief ACP Ibrahim Chin said he instructed his men to be on the alert after learning of the quakes.

- Bernama