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11 April 2012| last updated at 09:38PM

Tremors felt in Penang UPDATE

By Lee Keng Fatt, Adie Suri Zulkefli


Penang: In George Town, hundreds of shoppers ran out of the Gurney Plaza shopping complex into the Gurney Drive promenade after feeling the long tremor.

In Komtar, those watching movies at the 1st Avenue shopping complex ran out of the cineplexes too following the tremor.

Meanwhile a textile factory at Solok Pinang ordered its 1,500 workers out of the plant. The workers were all evacuated in an orderly manner.
 
At the Esplanade, members of the Civil Defence were seen ushering people away from the seafront promenade.
 
Elsewhere, residents of high-rise building were seen running out into the open space after feeling the tremor inside their respective units.
 
There were reports that the brief tremor caused waters to spill out from a swimming pool at the Penang Turf Club in Batu Gantung.

Hotels located along the Batu Ferringhi were also reported to have issued alerts to their guests of possible tsunami.
 
Hard Rock Hotel's marketing communications manager Elisa Saw said its security department head and security personnel were on standby to evacuate guests from the beach area as precaution after receiving alerts on tsunami.
 
"We are further monitoring the situation for safety reasons and the welfare of our guests," Saw said.
 
Hydro Hotel general manager M. Kumar said the hotel had alerted staff and guests on the earthquake and this included putting up notices warning guests not to go to beach area.
 
In Batu Ferringhi, as a precaution measure, police have instructed a fast food restaurant and a petrol kiosk in Batu Feringghi to close its doors temporarily. One of the restaurant staff, when queried by the NST, said they were informed by authorities to stop services at 9pm sharp.

The petrol station adjoining the restaurant also were ordered to close, leaving only two pumps in service.It is learnt the hotels in the area continue to operate as usual, but have alerted occupants not to go to the beach as the tsunami alert was on. The Penang Bridge however is still opened to traffic.
 
In Kepala Batas, the authorities have issued a warning to residents along the Kuala Muda coastline here to avoid the beaches. Police and the Fire Rescue Department personnel are already on standby at the location.
 
As at 9pm, police force and Fire and Rescue Department personnel were still on standby at the scene. It is learnt that in Bagan Ajam, villagers vacated their homes for fearing for the tidal waves.
 
Earlier, thousands of shoppers at shopping malls and residents of high rise buildings on the mainland rushed to evacuate the premises upon experiencing the tremors.
 

 

 

 

 

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