SINGAPORE - The Singapore Police Force said in an advisory that tremors were felt in certain parts of the island on Wednesday (March 2) evening at 8.53pm.
This was a few minutes after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit southwest of Sumatra, which is about 1,237km from Singapore, the Meteorological Services Singapore confirmed in the statement on Wednesday night.
Both the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) have received several calls from the public reporting these tremors.
Advising the public to remain calm, the police said if they are inside a building and feel the tremors, they should take cover under a sturdy table or furniture and keep away from items made of glass or any hanging object.
They should also not use the lift and any naked light in case of a gas leak.
If they are out in the open, they should minimise movement and stay away from buildings, street lights and utility wires.
After the vibrations stop, they should avoid any exposed electrical cables and hanging glass objects. They should report any gas leakage, alert the SCDF of significant injuries, report incidents or issues of law and order to the Police and tune in to the radio for updates.
Mr Mohamed Nasrullah, 29, who lives at Teban Gardens in Jurong, said he felt the tremors twice at around 8.50pm.
"I felt my bed moving for two to three seconds each time, and I saw my water bottle shaking too," said the quality assurance and control painting inspector.
Corporate communications executive Chng Jing Hui, 28, who lives in Punggol, said: "My dad felt it first as he was on a revolving chair and he felt the wheels move on its own. Then he told us to stop and feel and it was like you can feel the ground moving slightly. The ornaments on our plants also shook."
