Pranksters leave more than 1,000 residents in Semporna scampering to higher ground
By AIDAH AHMAD and MARRYAN RAZAN
SEMPORNA: A prank pulled by some irresponsible people that a tsunami was about to strike the coast of Semporna sent more than 1,000 residents from 10 villagers scampering to higher ground here Sunday night.
The villagers involved were from Kampung Alu, Kg Selamat, Kg. Bubul, Kg. Bangau-Bangau and Kampung Air which are coastal villages.
District police chief DSP Abdul Latif Ibrahim said police upon receiving information about the panic dispatched some 50 personnel to calm the residents who were racing to town close to 10pm.
“The residents fled and headed for the town after hearing rumours that a tsunami was on the way,” he said adding that the panic caused the streets to be jammed with people.
Most of them congregated at the Inabah mosque near the police station as they felt that it was the “safest place to be.”
Latif said the residents were finally convinced that there was no truth to the tsunami story at about 2am.
According to him, some of the residents were forced by police to return to their homes after assuring that nothing would happen to them.
Police are not taking kindly about the joke and would investigate the source of the rumours.
Latif advised residents who heard rumours to inform the police and not to entertain such rumours.
“Such rumours will only cause a panic situation among the people,” he said adding that the residents could always check with the police if indeed there was an earthquake in a neighbouring country.
He said the Meteorological Department would also work closely with the authorities if there was a warning that needed to be informed to the public including bad weather conditions among others.
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Alamak sabah pun mau kena kah...???
jangan panic gurau saja.....
