Development of inundation maps along East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia due to predicted seaquake from Manila trench on electrical assets

• Main Author: Afif Fitri Aziz
• Format: text::Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2023

Coastal zone has high value of socioeconomic activities. The number of developments and activities at the coastal areas of various sectors has increased day by day.Tsunami hazard is classified as one of the most devastating natural disasters that causes destruction along the coastal areas resulted to human fatalities. There are many causes of tsunami, but the most common is due to earthquake in the ocean. Previously recognized as a safe zone from natural disasters of tsunami, Malaysia was confronted by a rude awakening of the 2004 Andaman tsunami, causing a total loss of 68 lives. However, the potential impacts of tsunamis towards Malaysia coastal areas especially at East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia have not been explored extensively. This study, therefore, is critical and pertinent. It aims to investigate the potential seismic activities that generate tsunami occurrences affecting East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This study further simulates Manila Trench earthquake-induced tsunami at various earthquake intensities namely Mw 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 by using TUNA model. The simulation model utilizes linear shallow water equation (SWE) to simulate propagation of tsunami waves across deep ocean. Non-linear shallow water equation (NSWE) developed from finite difference method was also used in this study, in order to obtain run-up and inundation events at the affected coastal areas. Then inundation maps for East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia were developed where affected major electrical assets located within the inundation areas were demarcated and the submergence depths were established. Results obtained from this study indicated that tsunami wave generated by Manila Trench earthquake at Mw 9.0 resulted to the highest disastrous effects towards East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Findings from this study have established that Kelantan will experience the highest inundation depth at 4.0 m in Pasir Puteh with the highest inland inundation distance at 5.5 km in Bachok. Besides that, Terengganu will experience the highest inundation depth at 6.0 m in Kuala Terengganu with the highest inland inundation distance at 6.0 km also in Kuala Terengganu. In Pahang, the highest inundation depth at 4.5 m with the highest inland inundation distance at 3.3 km is anticipated to experience in Pekan. While in Johor, the highest inundation depth at 1.2 m with the highest inland inundation distance at 0.4 km is anticipated to experience in Mersing. On the other hand, Mw 8.0 and 7.0 earthquake were expected to be insignificant upon arriving at the coastal areas. A total of 29 major electrical assets located in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang were found to be potentially submerged during inundation events of tsunami at Mw 9.0, while for Mw 8.0 and 7.0, no major electrical asset was identified to be affected. In Kelantan at Mw 9.0 tsunami, there are three (3) assets anticipated to be affected and the highest submergence depth of 1.6 m is anticipated to experience at TMI Kandis located in Telong, Bachok. In Terengganu at Mw 9.0 tsunami, the highest submergence depth of 4.9 m is anticipated to experience at MSS Materniti located in Batu Burok, Kuala Terengganu. In Pahang at Mw 9.0 tsunami, two (2) major electrical assets namely MSS KPJ Tanjung Lumpur and MSS Telekom are anticipated to experience submergence depth of 0.1 m. While in Johor, no major electrical asset is identified to be affected by tsunami inundation generated from Manila Trench at Mw 9.0. The demarcation of major electrical assets provides clear indications to the owner of power provider on which electrical assets anticipated to be affected by tsunami inundation event. Mitigation measures and evacuation plans can be effectively planned as findings obtained from this study are able to provide vital information on the possibilities of tsunami waves occurrences to overcome massive losses of properties and lives.