KOTA KINABALU, June 23 — A two-storey school building was vacated after the ceiling of its second-floor library collapsed following the latest aftershock in the district.
Ranau district Fire and Rescue Services Department chief Jimmy Lagung said that the incident at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Mohamad Ali, in Kampung Lohan, Ranau occurred at about 11am, roughly five minutes after the aftershock was felt.
“There were no injuries caused although the ceiling of the library collapsed. The students were asked to evacuate the building,” said Jimmy after inspecting the site at about 12pm.
He said the school did not lodge a report but he had come after hearing news of the incident through social media.
The latest 3.5 magnitude earthquake at about 10.55am, occurred some 22km west of Ranau, where tremors were felt.
The school, which began operations in June 2003, has 546 students and 60 teachers. It was one of the schools affected by the deadly 6.0 earthquake last June 5 which resulted in 18 deaths.
More than 80 aftershocks have occurred in the Kundasang and Ranau area since.
State Education Department director Datuk Jame Alip, when contacted, said he was on his way to Ranau to assess the damage.
Earlier this week, Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan China (SRJKC) Pei Wen, Ranau was evacuated after its two-storey building was deemed unsafe by the Forensic Unit of the Public Works Department.
Three marquees were erected as makeshift classrooms while construction of a temporary classroom begins in two months’ time.
Some 60 schools in seven of the districts in the state suffered damage in the earthquake and aftershocks since June 5, although only four schools were significantly damaged.
