Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 69, May 2020, pp. 67 – 77
Bailon Golutin
Geoscience Unit, Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia, Sabah
Locked Bag 2042, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Email address: bailon@jmg.gov.my
Abstract: Strong earthquake tremor with a magnitude of 6.0 ML jolted Ranau, Sabah on 5 June 2015. The type of fault causing this strong earthquake tremor is normal left lateral oblique fault underneath the Lobou-Lobou Fault. Ground motion due to the strong Ranau earthquake showed seismic intensity VII in Kundasang and Ranau areas and up to VIII in the areas with loose soil properties, and for poorly built buildings and houses. Records of ground motion acceleration range from 0.01 g to 0.14 g. The highest value of PGA was recorded in Tuaran area and Lawa Mandau, Telipok, with values of 0.1452 g and 0.1351, g respectively. Based on the USGS database, the PGA in the epicentral area is 0.38 g. The ground motion acceleration shows amplification of ground motion seismic surface wave in the area underlain by sensitive geological materials and loose sediments such as slump breccias, peat deposit, swampy deposit, coastal plain and riverine alluvium, fill slope and reclaimed water bodies.
Keywords: Ground motion acceleration, seismic intensity, amplification, seismic surface wave, sensitive geological material, shallow strong earthquake
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm69202006