Tremors were widely felt in Penang, with many residents in high-rise buildings evacuating in a panic, and also in Kedah.

Residents of the Mutiara Idaman Flats in Jelutong had reported experiencing “swaying” motions, causing many to alert emergency services.

It was learnt the residents had gathered outside the block since 9pm fearing something was amiss.

According to the Paris-based EMSC seismologist website, the epicentre of the quake was 42km southwest of Medan and 27km northwest of Kabanjahe. It occurred at 8.42pm.

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) confirmed the earthquake on its Twitter account.

Under the Richter scale, an earthquake measuring 5.7 can be described as moderate, with “strong and sudden” movements.

Typically, such earthquakes can move furniture and chunks of plaster may come off walls.

Both the towns are situated in the northern Sumatra island and EMSC’s LastQuake app recorded a quake of 10km depth there.

Netizens from Penang had also taken to post their experiences on Facebook.

User Uchiha Authusa Shazwan said he was shaken badly at his home on Penang Island at 8.45pm sharp, while another user, Mohd Rizall Shuid, also said he felt strong tremors at the same time as well.

A Penang Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson contacted said nothing untoward had been reported.

“We are on standby for any eventuality,” the spokesperson said.