A strong earthquake hits Malaysia and Thailand with a magnitude of 7.1 and 6.5

A severe 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday (local time) off the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, according to the American Institute of Geophysics.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, at a depth of approximately 619.8 kilometers, according to the same source.

This earthquake coincided with noticeable seismic activity that struck the region on Sunday, as another earthquake measuring 6.5 degrees was detected in Thailand, along with an earthquake measuring 4.7 degrees in Indonesia.

Although the great depth of the Malaysian earthquake may reduce the extent of the direct damage on land, the relevant agencies in the city of Kota Kinabalu and coastal areas are still monitoring the situation to assess any possible structural damage or changes in sea level.