KOTA KINABALU: A man was lucky to have escaped unhurt after large tree branches fell on top of his car while he was driving in Likas.Lintas Fire and Rescue station chief Agustavia Joe Guasi said they were alerted of the incident at 8.54am.She said a 10-man team rushed to the scene.
“There was a man, aged 29, in the car when the incident took place but he is reported to be safe,” she said when contacted.“Our team sawed off the branches with a chainsaw before removing them from the vehicle.
“The operation ended at 9.18am,” Guasi added.The incident was one of 20 cases of falling trees or branches believed to be caused by strong winds received by the Fire and Rescue Department throughout the state over the past 24 hours.
A department spokesman said the Lintas station and northern Kota Belud station had the most calls at four cases each.This was followed by Penampang with three cases, Kudat (3), Kota Kinabalu (2) and one each in the districts of Tuaran, Tenom, Sook and Tawau.
“Members of the public are advised to be extra careful while outside their homes.
“Always keep an eye on your family members due to the unfavourable weather,” the spokesman said.Sabah Meteorological Department director Amirzudi Hashim said the current weather is caused by wind concentration in the south of Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah’s west coast.
“This potentially brings about thunderstorms and heavy rain, which are sometimes accompanied by strong winds,” he said when contacted.“This condition also causes choppy seas in the south of the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea including in Sabah waters.
”He said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) had issued a Category 2 strong wind and rough seas warning for waters off the Sabah west coast, southeast of Reef North and Layang-Layang, effective from Sept 17 to 21.
Strong winds of 50 to 60kph and waves reaching up to 4.5m are expected during this period, Amirzudi said, adding this condition is dangerous for all coastal activities and shipping including fishing and ferry services.
“The public are advised to be attentive to the current weather conditions and follow the adverse weather and seas advisory issued by MetMalaysia from time to time to avoid unwanted incidents.
”In Sungai Petani, a 34-year-old man sustained serious head injuries after a tree fell and hit his house in Kampung Nyior, Bukit Selambau.Amanjaya Fire and Rescue Station chief Asst Supt Fire Chief Azahari Abdullah said the station received a distress call at 1.18am yesterday.
On arrival, the team found that a tree had fallen and crashed onto a house, causing the man to sustain serious head injuries.Azahari said firefighters removed the victim from the house, after which the man was sent to Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim for further treatment.
