KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Tremors from an earthquake which occurred in the South China Sea at 7.29 AM on Sunday were felt in Miri, Bintulu and other places in Sarawak, east Malaysia.

    The Meteorological Services Department in Kuala Lumpur said the earthquake measured 4.8 on the Richter Scale.

    The epicenter was between Latitude 4.2 degrees North and Longitude 113.2 degrees East in the South China Sea, about 90 KM off Miri, 430 KM off Kuching and 1,290 KM from Kuala Lumpur.

    Bintulu Police Station Duty Officer Inspector Zulkifli Sulaiman said the tremors were felt over a wide area in the division.

    "We felt like being in a boat with rough sea conditions," he said.

    No tidal waves were reported and neither were there any reports about houses collapsing or cracks developing, he said.

    Ahmad Haji Taip, 34, a local resident in Niah near Miri, said he felt the tremors for about three seconds.

    "We felt the earth shaking and it was strong forcing most of the residents in Niah to rush out of their houses but none of the houses collapsed," he said.

    Many stayed outside in the open for more than an hour before going back into the house. Enditem