Tremors from an earthquake in the Sulu Sea were felt in several areas in Sabah today, and prompted the evacuation of the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) building in Sandakan.  

The earthquake, measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale, occurred at 9.31am in the Sulu Sea, 194km north-east of Kinabatangan and 247km south-west of Isabela City in the Philippines, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Services Department.

The tremors were felt here as well as in Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.

About 200 people who were in Wisma MPS here rushed out after the building shook at about 9.30am.

MPS deputy president Mohd Hamsan Awang Supain, who was to have chaired a meeting of the district action committee, left the building with about 50 officers who represented various agencies.

Soon after the tremors were felt, an instruction was issued to evacuate the building, he told Bernama .

Mohd Hamsan said the Fire and Rescue Department and Public Works Department were asked to inspect the structure of the building.

- Bernama