NSC mobilises SMART team to Sabah

PETALING JAYA: The National Security Council (NSC) has mobilised 25 members of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Sabah which was hit by a moderate earthquake today.
NSC deputy secretary Ogu Salim Omar said the team, led by MKN secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab, left for Kota Kinabalu at noon.
"The members comprise paramedics, engineers and rescuers. So far there are no casualties reported, and we are still waiting for the latest update," he told reporters here today.
Ogu Salim was met after handing over contributions, from Malaysians to earthquake victims in Nepal, to Second Secretary at the Embassy of Nepal in Malaysia, Uttam Kumar Shahi, at the SMART headquarters in Pulau Meranti, Puchong near here.
An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit Ranau in Sabah at 7.15am today, causing tremors in several areas including Tambunan, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud.
The quake's epicentre was 16km north west of Ranau. – Bernama