KOTA KINABALU: An earthquake rocked Ranau early yesterday but no one felt it. The earthquake, measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale, occurred 11km northeast of the district, about 130km from here. The Meteorological Department said the earthquake's epicentre was 6.1 degrees North and 116.8 degrees East of Ranau and 80km from here.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said yesterday he did not receive any reports from his constituents in Karanaan, which is in Ranau.

"Maybe because it happened early in the morning when most people were still asleep."

He said he would ask for a report about the earthquake and speak to more people to see if they felt anything, or if it left any "mark".

Jeffrey Alexus, a vegetable transporter, said he was with some friends in Kundasang, at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu about 20km from Ranau, about 2am but did not feel any tremors.

"I experienced quake tremors some years back but not this time," said Jeffrey.

Resort receptionist Cisca Madelius said in Kundasang she did not feel any tremor either.

"Did it really happen?"

It was not the first time quakes have been recorded in Sabah and experts believe that low to medium magnitude earthquakes can occur in the state.

The Malaysian National Tsunami Early Warning System, which was established in 2005, monitors earthquakes and tsunamis in the region.

The centre, which is under the Malaysian Meteorological Department, monitors the phenomenon and issues alerts and advisories.

To monitor earthquakes in the region, a network of 17 seismic stations -- seven in the peninsula, four in Sarawak and six in Sabah -- have been set up.

The department also said a moderate earthquake with a 5.4 magnitude on the Richter scale occurred in Tanimbar Island region at 5.26am yesterday.

The earthquake epicentre was located at 8.4 South latitude and 130.9 East longitude, 2,002km southeast of Tawau.