Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 80, November 2025, pp. 107 – 118
Global Navigation Satellite System-based assessment of tectonic movements in Lahad Datu: Implications for earthquake risk
Bailon Golutin1, Ismail Abd Rahim2
1 Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Malaysia, Jalan Penampang, Beg Berkunci 2042, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
2 Fakulti Sains dan Sumber Alam, UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
*Corresponding author email address: bailongolutin@gmail.com
Abstract: Active seismic activities have been reported in the Lahad Datu area in Sabah due to the presence of active faults, which has led to frequent, moderate to large earthquakes occurring within the area. According to USGS statistics, Lahad Datu was struck by a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 in 1923 and a magnitude of 6.2 in 1976. Monitoring activities commenced in 2019 following the installation of 12 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) monuments by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG), and the data until October 2024 was assessed in this study. Vertical movement rates, measured using GNSS, range from -8 mm (downward) to +7 mm (upward), whereas horizontal movement is between 4 and 15 mm. The vertical movement of the GNSS monuments is attributed to the dynamic collision between the Northeast and Northwest Borneo Troughs. The compression of the Pacific-Philippine plate is causing the NE Borneo Trough to migrate westward, which is indicated by the earth’s crust moving westward. The existence of NW-SE sinistral faults and ENE-WSW thrust faults suggests NW-SE compression. It has been determined that the following faults are active: Tomanggong, Tabin, Bakapit, Bakahak, Permai, Makuo, Silabukan, Silam, Sakar, Lamak, Sepagaya, Puyut, Lahad Datu, Salyawak, Tamaco, Lipad, Kulamba, Terusan Segama, and Manalanun.
Keywords: Earthquake, plate tectonics, active fault, earth crust, monument, GNSS
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Manuscript received 23 December 2024;
Received in revised form 21 February 2025;
Accepted 14 April 2025
Available online 28 November 2025
https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm80202508
0126-6187; 2637-109X / Published by the Geological Society of Malaysia.
© 2025 by the Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License 4.0.
