MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): A magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit the waters off Sultan Kudarat province early Sunday morning,  according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake rocked the municipality of Palimbang at 12.11am.

Instrumental intensities were felt in the following areas:

Intensity V – Kiamba, Sarangani

Intensity IV – Maitum, Sarangani; Surallah, T’Boli, and Tupi, South Cotabato; Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity III – City of Digos, Davao del Sur; Alabel, Glan, Maasim, and Malungon, Sarangani; Banga, City of Koronadal, Lake Sebu, Santo Niño, and Tampakan, South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Isulan, and Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity II – Zamboanga City; Davao City; Columbio, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity I – Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Kidapawan City, Cotabato; General Santos City

A 5.1 tremor and several weaker aftershocks were also recorded. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN

BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): A large sinkhole and fissure appeared in Krabi’s Khao Phanom district on Saturday, which a local believes may have been caused by an earthquake.

The sinkhole, measuring 20 by 20 metres, and a long fissure spanning more than four rai, were discovered behind the Theppitak chicken farm. In the chicken coop area, cracks were found in the floor at two locations, and a beam had subsided by approximately one centimetre.

The owner of the chicken farm, identified as Suwit, 52, said that villagers had alerted him to the appearance of the sinkhole. He explained that the hole was initially not very wide, but it gradually expanded until two three-year-old oil palm trees were completely submerged, with even their tops no longer visible.

He said he had informed the relevant authorities, who are expected to inspect the site today ( April 20). He added that it is possible the sinkhole and fissure were caused by the earthquake that struck the province on Monday (April 14).

A 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck Krabi’s Nuea Khlong district on Monday afternoon, the Meteorological Department announced.

The department said the quake occurred at 2.27pm, with its epicentre located two kilometres deep, at latitude 8.022°N and longitude 98.978°E. Residents of Nuea Khlong and Mueang districts reportedly felt the tremor.

The department added that the quake was caused by the Khlong Marui Fault, which runs through Ban Ta Khun and Phanom districts in Surat Thani, as well as Thap Put and Mueang districts in Phang Nga, before extending into the Andaman Sea, reaching Phuket and Koh Yao Island in Phang Nga.

The fault line spans approximately 148 kilometres. - The Nation Thailand/ANN

JAKARTA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived in Indonesia today for a three-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties between the neighbouring countries in among others education, food security, rural development and disaster management.

He and his delegation landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 7.01pm local time (8.01pm Malaysian time).

Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, was welcomed by Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Omar; Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin; and Malaysia's Permanent Representative to Asean, Datin Sarah Al Bakri Devadason.

"This visit is expected to further strengthen relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as enhance strategic cooperation," Syed Mohamad Hasrin told Malaysian media.

During the visit, Zahid is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Indonesia's Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and discuss as well as explore collaborative opportunities, including in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He is also set to witness the exchange of three Letters of Intent, two concerning TVET cooperation between Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and the regional governments of Jakarta and West Sumatra, and another between Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the Government of West Sumatra.

Regional disaster preparedness is also expected to be on the agenda, with scheduled visits to Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) and the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre).

"This is quite a special visit as Malaysia is currently chairing Asean, which gives us the opportunity to receive updates on the involvement of these centres in recent natural disasters, including in Myanmar," said Syed Mohamad Hasrin.

Another potential area for collaboration is food security, where both nations could explore joint efforts to tackle common challenges.

"Food security is a top priority for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and it is also high on Malaysia's agenda. If there are opportunities to collaborate, they will certainly be explored together," Syed Mohamad Hasrin added.

In 2024, Indonesia was Malaysia's sixth largest global trading partner and second largest among Asean member countries.

Bilateral trade in 2024 was recorded at RM116.29 billion (US$25.5 billion), a 4.5 per cent increase from RM111.21 billion (US$24.39 billion) in 2023. – BERNAMA

PETALING JAYA – Jabatan Meteorologi (MetMalaysia) meramalkan Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur menerima hujan lebat sehingga pukul 2 pagi nanti.

Antara kawasan terlibat di Selangor adalah Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak, Petaling dan Hulu Langat, sementara Kuala Lumpur terkesan secara keseluruhannya.

“Sarawak juga diramal terlibat meliputi Kapit (Song, Kapit dan Belaga), Bintulu dan Miri (Beluru, Telang Usan dan Marudi).

“Selain keseluruhan Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan, Sabah juga dijangka mengalami ribut petir di Pedalaman (Kuala Penyu dan Beaufort),” kata MetMalaysia menerusi kenyataan, malam ini. – KOSMO! ONLINE