KOTA KINABALU (Oct 23): Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) have been working around the clock in the state to clear fallen trees since Friday.
Acting Sabah Bomba chief Farhan Sufyan Borhan said they have recorded 33 cases of fallen trees around the state, due to heavy rain and strong winds, from October 18 to 23.
He said the district of Kota Belud recorded the most cases of fallen trees with seven, followed by Tuaran with five, Putatan (four) and three each in Kunak and Penampang.
The districts of Keningau and Papar recorded two cases each, while Tambunan, Sandakan, Beluran, Tawau, Kota Kinabalu, Kudat and Kuala Penyu recorded one case each.
Meanwhile, Farhan said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) had issued warning of continuous rain and strong winds in the west coast of Sabah, Kudat, Labuan, Tawau and Sandakan until Oct 25.
Farhan reminded the public to be careful and be prepared during this monsoon season which could cause floods in several areas.
MetMalaysia said Tropical Storm Trami was detected 1,281 kilometres (km) northeast of Kudat, located at latitude 15.7 north and longitude 124.4 east, about 395km northeast of Manila, the Philippines.
The department said the tropical storm was moving northwest at a speed of 20km an hour (km/h) and could reach a maximum speed of 83km/h.
MetMalaysia added that in addition to continuous rain and strong winds, rough sea conditions would also occur in the waters of the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.