More than 2,000 defence staff on alert over Typhoon Melor

KOTA KINABALU: The state Civil Defence personnel are on standby to face any eventualities as the tail-end effects of Typhoon Melor hit parts of Sabah.

Sabah Civil Defence Department director Col Mulliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin said they had placed more than 2,000 personnel on standby since getting an alert from the Meteorological Department earlier this week.

“So far, the west coast areas, including Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Papar, are experiencing a downpour,” Mulliadi said yesterday, adding that there had not been any reports of calamities caused by the typhoon.

The typhoon is expected to pack winds of up to 80kph and heavy rain to Sabah’s interior, west coast and Kudat until today.

Waves of up to 3.5m in the Sulu Sea and South China Sea are also expected.

Residents on the west coast can keep up to date with the latest Typhoon Melor news at http://www.met.gov.my/ or call 088-413 960.